When Jesus sent us out, He gave us power, authority, a partner, and a message. He took away our transportation, luggage, food, money, and extra clothes (Lk 9:3). He did not make reservations for us at the Holiday Inn but said: "Stay at whatever house you enter and proceed from there" (Lk 9:4).
When we send people out, we usually provide for their lodging, meals, expenses, and transportation. However, often we fail to give them power and authority in the Spirit. Our practices seem the opposite of Jesus' ways. No wonder we don't have the same results as Jesus did. The reason we contradict Jesus' words here is due to our lack of trust. We just don't trust God enough to get in on His way of doing things. We trust our own judgment rather than Him. Our approach is not bearing fruit and yet we hold on to it for lack of trust.
"Every word of God is tested" (Prv 30:5). We should "add nothing to His words" (Prv 30:6). Yet we do our own thing, thinking we have a better idea, while depriving ourselves of the power, blessings, and fruitfulness of His promises.
| PRAYER: | Lord, forgive me for trusting myself more than You. |
| PROMISE: | "He is a Shield to those who take refuge in Him." –Prv 30:5 |
| PRAISE: | St. Vincent de Paul, with great charity, strove to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the poor. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College