Thought for July 29, 2024

  • 1588: Defeat of the Spanish Armada 
  • 1715: 10 Spanish teasure galleons sink off Florida in a hurricane
  • 1835: First sugar plantation established in Hawaii
  • 1905: Secret agreement giving Japan free rein in Korea in exchange for non-interference with US in the Philippines
  • 1907: Robert Baden-Powell establishes the Boy Scouts in England
  • 1921: Hitler becomes leader of National Socialist German Workers Party
  • 1927: First iron lung installed 
  • 1938: Olympic National Park established
  • 1954: "Fellowship of the Ring" by Tolkien published
  • 1974: Episcopal church ordains female priests
  • 2016: Hillary Clinton becomes Democratic Party candidate for President
  • Born: Benito Mussolini, Dag Hammarskjold, Peter Jennings, Martina McBride,  Alexis de Tocqueville, Booth Tarkington, Elizabeth Dole, Charles Schwab, Ken Burns,  Dak Prescott
  • Died: William Wilberforce, Vincent van Gogh, David Niven, Robert Schumann, Cass Elliot, Tom Snyder, 
Thought:
I am reading Mark 6:7-13 this morning. Mark is reporting the same events as Matthew 10 and Luke 9. Three things catch my attention. First, Jesus does not send us out on a mission without giving us authority. I want to use the excuse that I am not ready, that I don't know enough theology, that I don't have any powerful speech prepared. But Jesus does not send me out in my authority or with my ability--He sends me in His name, with His authority and with His strength. The Great Commission is prefaced by His proclamation that "all authority in heaven and on earth is His." [Matthew 28:18] So, I don't have an excuse when I am sent by the One with all authority.

Second, He will provide the resources I need for the assignment. In 6:8, He tells us that if He sends us, we don't need to worry about money, food, hotel reservation. We go in total dependence on Him. Now, I don't think this means that we are foolish, that we do not plan, that we do not prepare---but I am certain that He is telling us that we do not have an excuse if He calls and sends. We have been studying Peter's letters in Sunday School. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that He has granted to us EVERYTHING we need for life and godly living. He provides all the resources. Our assignment is to listen for His call, obey His command and go. 

Third, He tells us to expect rejection. Sometimes I don't want to speak to someone about Jesus or share the gospel  because I fear they will reject me, laugh at me, think that I am a fanatic. But Jesus tells me to expect to be treated just like He was. He also tells us that we will find others who believe or are open to the gospel. So my job is not to fear rejection, but to tell about Jesus. And when rejected, move on to someone else who might be open to hear and respond. 

Blessings
Larry

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