Author: Ron Moore

Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons.” You have received free of charge; give free of charge. Matthew 10:5-8 HCSB

The final command of Jesus as He ascended into heaven was, “Go and make disciples.” That is still the command He gives to all of His disciples –“Go”. We are to go and announce that the kingdom of heaven is near. The good news is that Jesus has already started making His kingdom here on earth in the hearts and minds of believers. Someday He will return to earth and He will establish His kingdom where there will be no more pain, suffering, or death.

Jesus sent out His disciples to preach the Good News, to heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons. We do not have a record of what the disciples were able to do, but I suspect that they did all of those things that Jesus had commanded them to do, including raising people from the dead. Jesus wanted them to learn that through Him they had the same power to do all they had seen Him do. This would later give them confidence as they faced persecution and trials when they made a stand for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Challenge: God is still commanding believers to “Go”. Where has God called you to go? To your next door neighbor? To the person working next to you? To a family member who needs to know Christ? Go and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone this week.

Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. Matthew 10:1 HCSB

At a young age I struggled with what God wanted me to do with my life. Every year I changed my major while in college, seeking to find just the right place for me. In the summer between my junior and senior year in school, I reluctantly went with my parents to a Family Enrichment Conference. At that conference I felt God’s call on my life to become a youth minister. I returned home with a desire to change my major one more time. I graduated with a Social Science degree and went on to seminary and earned a Masters Degree in Religious Education. Over the last 40 years I have followed God’s call on my life. There have been times when I have been discouraged and even wanted to quit, but the call of God has always given me the strength to do what was required.

Jesus called His disciples together and gave them authority and instructions to go and minister to the people of Israel. Jesus gave His disciples His power. They did not have the power and authority on their own to drive out demons and heal the sick. Jesus gave them His power so they could do what they had seen Him do.

Challenge: God calls every believer to go and minister to others. Not everyone is called to be a full-time vocational minister, but every believer is called to minister to those they encounter. God has given you His authority to minister in His name. To love in His name. To care in His name. You are the hands and feet of Jesus to minister to a dying world that desperately needs a Savior who can forgive people of their sins and give them eternal life. Pray that God will give you authority and use you to minister to others.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 HCSB

This year I celebrate 40 years of full-time ministry. One of the greatest challenges in ministry is discovering, enlisting, and training workers. There is always a need for more volunteers, especially in the preschool and children’s ministry areas.

Jesus had just looked out on the crowds and had compassion for them because they were weary, worn out, and lost. He realized how many people needed a Savior. He described them as a harvest that was abundant. Many people are not only in need of a Savior, they are willing to give their lives to Jesus Christ if only someone would tell them about Him and help them know how to become His disciple. He then commanded His disciples to pray for more workers. When we pray it shifts the problem from us to our great God who is all-powerful and capable of handling any challenge.

Challenge: In approaching God through prayer, we are utilizing the great power of God. It is through prayer that we can change the world and make a difference in the lives of others. As you pray for more workers, do not be surprised if God calls you to be one of those workers. Be prepared to share the Good News of Jesus with those you encounter each day who are lost and need to know Jesus as Lord of their lives.

When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 HCSB

For years my wife and I have sponsored a child through Compassion International. Each month we give money to help with her food, clothes, health care, education, and religious training. We selected her because she has a birthday in September near the birthdate of our youngest daughter. We correspond with her via letters periodically. Compassion International currently sponsors over 1,700,000 children worldwide. Over 122,000 children and mothers accepted Christ as Savior this last year. The organization by its name appeals to the compassion of people to get them involved in sponsoring a child.

Jesus had compassion on the crowds that He saw, not because they were poor but because they were worn out, weary, and lost. They needed a Savior. The Bible teaches us that Jesus is a God of compassion and kindness. He desires to help us, care for us, and protect us like a good shepherd does for his sheep. Jesus loves us so much He was willing to die on the cross for our sins so we might be forgiven and enjoy eternal life in heaven with Him.

Challenge: Pray that God would give you a compassion for the worn out, weary, and lost of this world. Pray that your compassion will push you to actually do something to minister to those in need and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. If interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion International, go to www.compassion.com.

Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. Matthew 9:35 HCSB

Billy Graham is known as one of the most famous traveling evangelists. He has traveled all over the world attracting large crowds at indoor and outdoor venues, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. His son, Franklin Graham, and his grandson, Will Graham, now conduct crusades around the world. I had the privilege of working with the Billy Graham crusade in Nashville, Tennessee, as the co-chairman of the follow-up committee and was amazed at the dedication and organization traveling evangelism requires.

Jesus, as the Son of God, was a traveling evangelist. He preached the Good News of the kingdom of God in towns and villages. Each community that had at least 10 Jewish men was required to have a synagogue which served as the local place for worship and religious instruction. Jesus used the synagogues as a place to teach and preach the love of God.

Challenge: Today our churches are places where people gather for worship and religious instruction. Are you involved in a local body of believers? Are you attending a small group Bible study? Pray that God would help you take advantage of opportunities to teach and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to friends, relatives, work associates, and neighbors.

“I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11-12 HCSB

I have officiated at several funerals. Some families are confident that their loved one is in heaven, but other families wish and hope that their loved one has gone on to heaven. Most of those families say that he or she loved the Lord and was a good person, but too many times as I talk with the family I discover that their loved one was not involved in church for years. The loved one lived a good life but his or her life did not exhibit any true faith in God. He may have grown up in a Christian home and gone to church as a child, but a person’s Christian heritage does not save him.

Jesus said that people from all over the world, both Jews and Gentiles would enter the kingdom of heaven. Jews should have known this (see Isaiah 25:6 and 55) but many of the Jews felt that salvation was just for the Jews. They believed that because they were descendants of Abraham that they were guaranteed to be a part of the kingdom of God. They also relied on their ability to follow the rules and regulations to get them into heaven. Neither of these will save a person. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that one can enter the kingdom of God. Jesus made it clear that the sons of the kingdom (Jews) that did not have the faith would be thrown into hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Challenge: Many will say, “Lord, Lord” but will not enter the kingdom of God. Neither a good life nor a Christian heritage gets one into heaven. No one can be good enough to get into heaven. Faith in Jesus is the only way to know you have eternal life. Ask Jesus to forgive you and come into your life. Place your faith and trust in Him and avoid the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, “I assure you: I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith! Matthew 8:10 HCSB

My two year old granddaughter was visiting our home. Her uncle was just playing with her by making some funny sounds. She did not find the sounds to be funny and came running to me and grabbed my legs because she was afraid. She had faith in me and knew I would protect her.

That is what Jesus desires of each of us – to come running to Him and have faith that He will take care of us. The centurion had faith that Jesus could heal his servant just by speaking the words. Jesus was amazed at how great a faith the centurion had.

Challenge: Would Jesus be amazed at how great a faith you have? Jesus is not talking about the quantity of faith but rather the quality of faith. Do you really believe that Jesus can take care of you? Trust Him with your life and with every situation you may be facing. Pray that your faith will increase.

“Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured. For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Matthew 8:8-9 HCSB

God has been very good to me and allowed me to work in a variety of positions in my career. I have worked as a youth pastor, as a youth ministry consultant for the Missouri Baptist Convention, as an editor at Lifeway Christian Resources, and as an Education and Administration Pastor. In some positions I have supervised other employees and had a great level of responsibility and authority while in other positions there was no need for me to have much control.

The centurion understood that Jesus was a man of authority and had control over many areas. He may have seen Jesus heal people or perhaps he had heard about some of the miracles Jesus had done. He understood the power of Jesus and realized that Jesus did not have to be present to heal his servant. All He had to do was to speak the command and his servant would be well.

Challenge: Do you really understand the awesome power of Jesus? Do you realize that none of us are worthy of being called a child of God? None of us deserve any attention or consideration from Jesus, but because of His love for us He was willing to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus has all power over everything and we can trust Him to take care of any situation we may face. Praise Him for who He is and for His great power and authority.

“I will come and heal him,” He told him. Matthew 8:5-6 HCSB

I am very proud of our four children. Each has been willing to go and do what God has called them to do. Bethany served in China, India, and Mexico on mission trips. Nathan helped plant a church in New York City. Jonathan served the poorest of the poor in West Africa, and Sarah assisted with clean up after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Each one has developed a heart for missions and has been willing to follow God’s leadership.

Jesus did not care if this man was a Roman soldier. He would not let the opinion of others prevent Him from doing what God had called Him to do. The Jews hated the Roman soldiers because of their ridicule, control, and oppression. Jesus, however, looked beyond the soldier’s ethnicity and His position as a Roman centurion and saw Him as a human being that deserved to be loved and cared for as much as anyone else. Jesus was willing to go to the house of a Gentile to heal someone which would have made Him ceremonially unclean by the rules and regulations of the the Scribes and Pharisees. He often disregarded ritualistic rules in order to minister to the needs of others.

Challenge: Are you willing to go and do what God has called you to do? Are you willing to go against the opinion of others to follow God’s will for your life? What is God calling you to go and do? Pray for God’s wisdom and direction.

When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him pleading with Him, Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony! Matthew 8:5-6 HCSB

I grew up in the 60’s and remember the tension between white and black people. Black people were not allowed to ride in the front of the bus, there were separate water drinking fountains for blacks, and some were refused service at restaurants. The attitude of white people toward black people was wrong. The black people were often treated as outcast and were not welcome in many locations and businesses.

The Jewish people would have had nothing but disdain for the Roman centurion. First, he was a gentile or non-jew. Second, he was a part of the Roman military. The presence of the Roman soldiers were a constant reminder that the Jewish people were not free and under the authority of the Roman government. The centurion would have been a commander of a unit of approximately 100 solders. The Jewish people would have treated all Roman soldiers as outcast. They would have avoided having any contact with them. This Roman centurion comes to Jesus with respect and honor, even addressing Him as Lord.

Challenge: Who do you treat as an outcast? God has created all people and we are called to love everyone just as Jesus loved everyone. Ask God to help you overcome your prejudice attitudes and see all people as equal.