Lesson 2540

(Lesson 2540)(12-03-18) Luke 9:1-6
    “ Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.”

   Today’s is a very important lesson in that it relates explicitly to how Jesus intended His followers to preach His word to the lost. Not only did Jesus give His apostles (And modern believers) power over all evil, He told them that they needed to take nothing with them for their journey, knowing that through faith, all things would be provided for them. He also told them that if they encountered someone who chose not to hear their words, they were to “shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them”.
     This last part of Jesus’ instructions is a great part of what is so sadly wrong with the way today’s “Christian” people go about conducting their duty to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We all seem to want to point out and condemn the failures of others while overlooking out own shortcomings. I’m as guilty as anyone; However, there are too many who wrongfully try to pass laws that would force our neighbors to obey the will of God only as they believe it should be obeyed. In today’s lesson, Jesus refuted that argument when He clearly made the point that if a person is unwilling to listen to what the gospel says, we, as real Christians, are to have nothing more to do with them and leave them to the eternal wrath of God. (Romans 2:1) “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”