Matthew 10:5-15...Jesus teaches minimalism

 

See the lone pine tree coming up from the rock island?  This is Lone Pine Lake in the RMNP and it was named after a lone pine tree on that island.  I think the original pine tree died but another came up in its place or was planted there.  A minimalist of one in a land of an abundance of pine trees.  I think minimalism is not only about having less or only what you need but also being more focused on what you have.  You tend to care for those things you have decided to keep because they are all that you have.  Life was very different when the kids were growing up and at times there were 3 or 4 cars on the property.  When you reduce to 1 you treat that vehicle very differently and maintain it more meticulously.  You zero in on one type of engine, one size of tires, and one manual.

Jesus is giving His disciples, now called apostles, instructs that help them to focus on what is ahead of them.  He wants them to be prepared by following what He says.  His instructions are pretty specific.

  • Where to go - the region of Galilee, not the land of the Gentiles or the cities of the Samaritans - go local
  • Who to go to - the target group is the lost sheep of the house of Israel - those receptive within the house of Israel who are sheep looking for their Shepherd
  • What to say - the kingdom of heaven is at hand - just like He and John the Baptist said
  • How to get their attention - heal, cleanse, raise and cast out - the ability to serve through actions He was doing
  • What to take - rather what not to take and see God provide what was needed
  • How to give the message and the muscle - freely, undeservedly - no charge for the knowledge and the physical care given
  • Where to stay - a worthy home
  • How to know - tell your story
  • What kind of responses - either receive or reject
  • How to respond to the responses - receive/stay or reject/move on
  • Why the mission - because of God's coming judgment
And to think that Jesus is not done with His instructions.  The response of them receiving them as followers of Jesus and receiving also His words was easy, stay put, set up base camp.  The response of them rejecting them as official ambassadors of Rabbi Jesus and rejecting His words was to shake the dust off your feet and move on.  This response would have carried the temptation to give up, throw in the towel, head home, and say, "Well we gave it a shot but it didn't work."  Jesus says to keep moving.  He will give even more detail in the next passage so that we will work through the rejection and keep proclaiming this message until He comes again.

We are witnesses of escaping the wrath of God through the grace of God.  The wrath of God is deservedly an eternity absent of His presence.  But undeservedly we received the grace of God provided by Him through His Son Jesus Christ.  Undeservedly we have received the grace of God as a gift and therefore we undeservedly share this message with others.  We share the message and use our God given abilities to serve others in the name of Jesus.  

What's our region of Galilee?  What's our local?  I would say it is the people God has put around us that we know and more importantly, they know us.  It is our family, co-workers, fellow students, neighbors, common hobby participants and common community service volunteers.  The stage is set for us to us our muscles (serving others) to build a relationship to share the message of who Jesus is to us and how we escaped the wrath of God through the grace of God.  This is our minimalist, single focus mission of what we, the ambassadors of Christ, are to do until He comes again.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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