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 1 Corinthians 15:45 The last Adam.Jesus is the federal head of his elect. As in Adam, every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race as considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since he is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love. The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedek met him: it is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in old eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure forever. Thus, whatever Christ hath done, he hath wrought for the whole body of his Church. We were crucified in him and buried with him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with him and even ascended with him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is thus that the Church has fulfilled the law, and is "accepted in the beloved." It is thus that she is regarded with complacency by the just Jehovah, for he views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head. As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from his Church, but all that he has he holds for her. Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same manner, all that the Second Adam is or does, is ours as well as his, seeing that he is our representative. Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution, which moved Justin Martyr to cry out, "O blessed change, O sweet permutation!" this is the very groundwork of the gospel of our salvation, and is to be received with strong faith and rapturous joy. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. Colossians 2:6,7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, • having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Matthew 24:13 "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. Luke 8:15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. 2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. John 9:4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. Galatians 6:8-10 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. • Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. • So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. 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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