Tuesday, October 7, 2014 The Task of “The Twelve” Matthew 10:5-10 5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. DEVOTION There is no difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33), Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God. In His teaching of the choices of the rich young ruler, Jesus uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:23). In the very next verse, Christ declares, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 24). Jesus places no difference between the two expressions, and actually uses them as one and the same. They mean we are to seek the salvation that is inherent in the kingdom of God because it is of greater value and takes priority over all the world’s riches and personal pursuits. Once we are born again, we eternally become part of the kingdom of God. We gain the born of the spirit relationship (John 3:5), with the assurance that the Spirit bears witness with our spirits (Romans 8:16). Thus, when we preach the kingdom of heaven being at hand, we preach to establish faith in the full glory of the kingdom God/heaven being immediately available for men to prepare for it. We inspire the love of heavenly things and the condemnation of earthly desires. We arouse the hope of eternity.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:11:02 +0000
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