Day 5 | The Mission
Matthew 10:5-15
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the labourer deserves his food.
And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Words: Aimee Cowan Read: 0 - 5 mins Published: 5 March 2024
Any builder or architect will tell you that in order to build something that will last, you need to have a plan. In 1842, Sir John Herschel introduced a way to reproduce technical drawings that allowed rapid and accurate production of an unlimited number of copies. This method is now known as a ‘blueprint’.
In these passages in Matthew, we see Jesus giving His disciples their blueprint. But unlike a complex technical drawing, He seems to make it quite straightforward – “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons”. While some of us may feel following a complex engineering drawing would be easier, it seems that the key perhaps, might be in the next part, “freely you have received; freely give”.
When I begin to reflect on how God has been at work in my life, I can see how much He has transformed me. I have found my identity in Him, my peace in Him, my hope in Him, my courage in Him and my ‘blueprint’ for living life in Him. It doesn’t bear to think about where I might be had I not found Jesus all those years ago. I was sick. I was dead in my spirit. I was living from a place of sickness and disease. But God lovingly healed me and has given me a new life!
Remembering what He’s done in my own life is what motivates me to share that with those around me. I want to see the people I love and know set free to live the fullest life God designed them to live. I want to see addiction, mental health problems, bitterness and anxiety break off people. This vision and blueprint I have for my community and those around me is what keeps me going when I feel like it’s too hard.
What has God placed in your heart for those around you? Where do you long to see breakthrough in your community? Who has God already placed in your everyday life that you long to see transformed by the Good News of Jesus?
Spend a few minutes asking God to give you His blueprints for those around you. Ask Him to show you what the original plan was supposed to look like for people you know and how you can pray specifically to see this come to pass. When we know what the master plan is and we can see how life is supposed to be, it gives us courage to shake off the dust, rely on God for the details and press on with what He’s called us to do.
Brisbane River Bridge Blue Print T 69a, Qld State Archives (Public Domain)