Proclaim the Kingdom & Heal

Luke 9:1-6
1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

This section of scripture recounts the first time Jesus sent the apostles out on their own. Their mission was simple: proclaim the kingdom of God and heal.

Jesus also equips them so they can stay focused on their goal. He first tells them not to be concerned with possessions, clothing, food or money. He also tells them if they receive hospitality from someone, to be content with that and not to seek hospitality from others. And he also tells them what to do if they are not accepted. Verse 6 then shows that they obeyed him.

I know that we are not apostles, but this paragraph tells us much about how we are to live as followers of Christ. Do you do the two things Jesus commanded? Proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal? Glorify God and edify others? Acknowledge God in everything you do and use your words to build up? When we reword the mission Jesus gave to the apostles, it brings it closer to our realm of everyday life.

We can give God the glory in our lives (which does include preaching the gospel). We can build up others with our words. What are the things that can get in our way? Jesus explained it: being preoccupied with possessions, clothing, food and money. Letting the “acceptance” from others determine how we act. Using the gospel to extort things out of others. Jesus made it simple: glorify God and build up others. Anybody happen to remember what the greatest commandment was? And the second?