Thursday, 3 June 2010

Christ's Charge to Harvest Hands

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:

"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

"When you enter a town or village, don't insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

"When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry—but it's no concern of yours now.

"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

"A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect?

"Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now.

"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

2 comments:

  1. Don't you just love these words! I know they are paraphrased by Peterson, but don't they touch you deep down in your innermost being?They judge me and expose my self righteousness, but they also draw me back into reality and truth and inspire me to to trust only in God!I have read many books on evangelism and mission yet only the best come near to Christ's simple teaching here.Every verse here has something deep within it about mission that we often miss in our well made plans. Well made by us and often dependent on us,reliant on our own resources instead of God's.

    'You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.'
    I like this verse-we often feel we need more things to help us, and though technology can certainly be used for God's glory we often feel we are ill equipped without it.Is God the Holy Spirit not enough? In fact the verse before may give us a clue- in the power of the Holy Spirit- should we not be making sick bodies well?

    Also where we are welcomed, we should show grace and love and patience. We will soon be facing enemies who 'will impugn your(our) motives, others will smear your(our) reputation—just because you believe in me (Christ). We will have to take it on the chin -get up again and brush ourselves down as they say.But what about this verse-priceless:

    "A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect?

    What a word-take courage brother and sister-He will never leave you or forsake you!

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  2. Amen! (What more can I say?) Amen, and amen! Thanks for posting this!

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