Friday, February 15, 2019

Worthy Recipients

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, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it.13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 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. 15 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." (Matthew 10)
God's Blessing. Who deserves it?  In a very real sense - none of us.  We cannot and do not do what "earns" God's blessing, salvation. forgiveness, or position as His children, let alone additional "perks".  He offers them freely to those who will receive them, trust Him, and identify with Him.  For many, pride keeps us from accepting anything free. It also tends to make us decide who is and who is not worthy of the same.  Christ is straightforward: let Him decide.  As we have freely received what God offers, may we freely share with others, hoping, asking, trusting that they will receive as well.  As for judgment on those who will not?  That's His place, not ours.  We are but His unworthy servants, recipients of His loving grace. 

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