Bible League: Living His Word Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?" "No," they replied.— Luke 22:35 NLT Jesus sent out seventy-two of His disciples in pairs to all the towns He planned to visit. It was a kind of instructional training mission for the disciples. He told them, "Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road" (Luke 10:4). He also told them, "Don't move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay" (Luke 10:7). Later, when He was about to leave them, Jesus gave His disciples a different set of instructions. They were instructions for how they were to proceed with their missionary endeavors when Jesus was no longer with them. "'But now,' he said, 'take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!'" (Luke 22:36). What's the significance of the difference? The training mission was meant to show the disciples that they could trust the Lord to provide for them—no matter what. Indeed, they were sent out with nothing in order to prove the point. Their missionary endeavors, in contrast, were to proceed in a more conventional manner. They were to prepare for the journeys and bring whatever they would need with them—even a sword for defense against thieves and robbers. Although the disciples would go out prepared for whatever would come their way, the lessons learned from the training mission would still be operative. The Lord would provide for them—no matter what. If they failed to bring what they would need, if they forgot something, the Lord would provide. The training mission did its work. It proved the point. They could count on the Lord to provide. Today, Jesus is asking you the same question. He's asking if you have been in need of anything during the times when you were on your mission. He's asking, in effect, if the Lord provided for you even when you had nothing. Like the disciples, you would have to admit that He did provide. After all, you've made it this far. You can count on Him, then, to provide for you in the years to come as well. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingZechariah 1, 2, 3 Zechariah 1 -- The Word of the Lord to Zechariah: The Vision of the Horses; Angel's Prayer; Four Horns and Four Craftsmen NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 2 -- The Angel with a Measuring Line; God Redeems Zion; the Promise of God's Presence NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 3 -- Joshua, the High Priest, Receiving Clean Garments; I will bring forth my servant, the Branch NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 17 Revelation 17 -- The Woman on the Beast; Babylon is doomed; Victory for the Lamb NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”Insight “In the last days'' scoffers will say that Jesus is never coming back, but Peter refutes their argument by explaining God's mastery over time. The “last days'' is the time between Christ's first and second comings; thus, we—like Peter—live in the last days. Challenge We must do the work to which God has called us and believe that he will return as he promised. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 28:20 Lo, I am with you alway.The Lord Jesus is in the midst of his church; he walketh among the golden candlesticks; his promise is, "Lo, I am with you alway." He is as surely with us now as he was with the disciples at the lake, when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon and bread. Not carnally, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us. And a blessed truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed. Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of him so overcomes us, that we are ready to say, "Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me." Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the cassia, which drop from his perfumed garments, causes the sick and the faint to grow strong. Let there be but a moment's leaning of the head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of his divine love into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer, but glow like seraphs, equal to every labor, and capable of every suffering. If we know that Jesus is with us, every power will be developed, and every grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves into the Lord's service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the presence of Christ to be desired above all things. His presence will be most realized by those who are most like him. If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to him. Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ's desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to be favored with his company. Remember his presence may be had. His promise is as true as ever. He delights to be with us. If he doth not come, it is because we hinder him by our indifference. He will reveal himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously suffer himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to his people. Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." John 10:27,28 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; • and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Jude 1:24,25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, • to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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