Monday, February 29

Luke 9:1-2

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Reflection

Jesus gave his inner circle of twelve disciples the power and authority to share his message and he gave them the power and authority to preach, drive out demons and cure the sick.  I wonder if many of us realize that we have been given that same power and authority.

We are given by Jesus, as his followers, the authority to share his message and we are given the power to pass on healing and wholeness in the name of Jesus.  We need to understand that through the authority and power of Jesus we can proclaim the life-changing message of Jesus.

Are we taking the opportunity to offer the power of Jesus’ love and grace to others? 

February 28 - March 5

Delegation

Luke 9:1-6, Luke 10:1-7

The spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ is completely and totally up to those who follow Jesus.  What that means is that if those who call themselves Christian aren’t actively sharing and spreading the good news of Jesus then it won’t get done.  It is our responsibility.

Why is it our responsibility?  We must take the responsibility of sharing the good news of Jesus with others because through the authority of Jesus he has delegated that task to us.  Then when new disciples are made the task of passing on the good news is delegated to them as well. 

Are we fulfilling the responsibility of passing on Jesus’ message to others?  If we are that is great.  However, if we aren’t then we should recognize we are falling short of what Jesus expects from us.  Our job is to be Christ bearers to the world.  This week we are going to focus on the fact we should fulfill this responsibility and how we should get the job done.

Saturday, March 5

Luke 10:16

“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Reflection

Jesus has delegated the responsibility to us to share the gospel with others.  In that delegation Jesus has said that we are truly speaking and acting on his behalf.  Jesus goes so far to say that if someone listens to us then they are listening to Jesus.  Jesus says the opposite is true as well, if someone refuses to listen to us they are refusing to listen to him. 

Instead of filling us with pride it should humble us that Jesus is willing to delegate such responsibility to us.  When we speak we are speaking with the authority and blessing of Jesus.  We should also take very seriously that Jesus trusts us to that degree.  Never should we treat the responsibility to share Jesus’ message with others lightly.  We are truly the agents of Jesus when we are faithful to share his message with others.

Have you ever thought about the reality that when you share Christ, you are speaking for Christ?

Saturday, February 27

Luke 18:28-30

Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

Reflection

It requires tremendous personal sacrifice to follow Jesus.  It requires putting our needs and wants aside to live a life of disciple-making and demonstrating the way of Jesus through our lives.  However, it should comfort us that Jesus has told us that nothing we sacrifice in this life for the sake of the gospel will go unnoticed.  There will be a reward.  Faithful discipleship and faithful disciple-making will be rewarded many times over through the gift of eternal life.

When we are tempted to begrudge that which we have to sacrifice to demonstrate Christ’s way for others through our lives, we need to remind ourselves that Jesus has promised that he will make it well worth our time and effort!

Take time today reflecting on Jesus’ promise to reward us for our faithful discipleship.  Does this give you hope to persevere?

Thursday, March 3

Luke 10:2-4

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.  Go!  I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.”

Reflection

Jesus has delegated to us the responsibility and the privilege of sharing the good news of his salvation that he brought to this earth.  Why did Jesus give us this responsibility?  The reason he wanted us to make disciples is because many people are ready to receive Jesus’ message but there aren’t many who are willing to tell others about the good news.

Jesus wants as many people as he can connecting with people who haven’t received his grace so that more and more people will enter his kingdom.  Jesus’ desire is that all people come to know him and receive his salvation.  Jesus needs workers so he assigns the responsibility to tell others about him to everyone who follows him.  There are many people who are ready to hear so Jesus needs us all sharing the good news with others.

Who are you intentionally connecting with so that you might have the opportunity to share your faith story of how Jesus has impacted your life?

Friday, February 26

Luke 18:26-27

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 

Reflection

Even though we are called to make disciples and one of the ways we do that is to demonstrate the life of discipleship through our lives, that will never be the factor that will truly save a person.  Our lives might point someone to Jesus but it will always be the power of God that will do the saving.

Salvation is the work of God.  God will use us in the work but we are never the means of salvation.  Salvation through humans is impossible.  God is the only one who makes salvation possible.

Have you ever taken too much responsibility when it comes to someone’s salvation?  If so, take this opportunity to turn it over to God.

Thursday, February 25

Luke 18:24-25

Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Reflection

Jesus is affirming a very hard truth in this statement.  There are some people who have blocking forces in their life that make it very difficult for them to overcome and do what they need to do in order to follow Jesus.  In these cases we need to continue demonstrating what it means to follow Jesus and continue to pray that the Holy Spirit open their eyes and soften their heart to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If Jesus had people in his life who would not respond to his demonstration of discipleship then we must realize that there will be people who will not respond to our efforts to live the gospel before them.  We need to keep trying and we need to keep praying but it is wrong for us to feel that we have failed.  Everyone is allowed their choice and in the end they are the ones who will have to take responsibility for their choice.

Have you ever blamed yourself when someone else refused to accept the Gospel?  Take time to think about the fact that someone else’s response is not your responsibility.  Your responsibility is to demonstrate the gospel through your life and let others make their choice.