Instructions II

Scripture:  Matthew 10:11-15 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

11 “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. 12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day. (Matthew 10:11–15 NLT)

Search for a worthy man (a man of peace) and build a relationship. The best ministry relationships are not one-sided. See the principle here: The Good News messenger has something the other needs. The other has something the messenger needs. There’s no place for pride or superiority. Give the man and his home your blessing. If the town welcomes you give it your blessing.  Be a blessing!

Hospitality was a big thing in an age where there were no motels or restaurants! As God’s messengers, we mustn’t be too proud or self-sufficient to receive hospitality, and as God’s people we must never be too selfish to offer hospitality! Jesus said that the towns and villages that didn’t offer hospitality to his messengers would be judged more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah, cities that were destroyed for their wickedness and selfishness and refusal to care for the poor and needy. Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. (Ezekiel 16:49 NLT)

If you’re not received, you’re under no obligation. You can leave when you need to. Shake off the dust from your feet as you leave. This is your way of saying “I did what I could and I’m letting it go! It’s in God’s hands!” Your blessing will return to you. This makes it clear that we don’t have to get into arguments with people who believe differently, we don’t have to judge people by whether they agree with us, and we don’t have to hate them or condemn them. Note that Jesus never tells his disciples to curse those people or places that don’t receive them! Judgment Day will take care of that!

Prayer:

Father, Please give us wisdom to understand the truth in this story and apply the core principle wisely and practically in our own situation. We are called. We are sent. We may or may not be received. May we tell the Good News and show the Good Grace of our Good God. And leave the rest to you! Amen.