Fri.’s Devo - Sent Out

Read: Matthew 9:27-38; Mark 6:1-13; Matthew 13:53-58; 10:1-42
Jesus healed two blind men and a mute man. I can’t help thinking of the principle ‘first the natural, then the spiritual.’ Jesus healed their natural blindness and inability to speak first, but he would rather be healing their spiritual blindness and inability to speak right.
Jesus returned home to Nazareth which means “a branch”. That was what Jeremiah and Zechariah all called the coming Messiah. (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Zechariah 6:12) The prophets had even named Nazareth as where the Messiah would come from and yet the people refused to accept him because they had seen him grow up and he seemed like any other boy. It was hard for them to believe his miracles so it was hard for Jesus to do many there. God acts on faith, not unbelief. That shows us that Mary had not told anyone about Jesus birth or her angelic visitation.
Jesus saw in the spirit that the fields were ready to be harvested but he needed help so he called all his disciples together and imparted to them his power over demons and power to do miracles. Then he sent them out and they did the things that he did. I imagine Jesus doing that same thing now. He is anointing us to do the same things that Jesus did and more.
Jesus warned his disciples of what would happen to them because they carry his name and his ministry. The key to their overcoming would be in their love for God. They had to love him above all else.
Lord, help us to go out in the power of your name and do the works that will bring people into the kingdom.