Matthew 10:5-15 Shake the Dust Off
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 7, 2019, Matthew 10:5-15
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
(Understanding the Text) Matthew is still providing evidence here. He is demonstrating that Jesus was able to share His power with others. In addition, this is a continuance of an earlier thought. There is a need to reach the people who are harassed and hurting. Jesus calls the people that they are going to speak with “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Just a few verses before this Matthew had quoted Jesus as saying that there was a need for more laborers. “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Thus, this section seems to be an answer to that need. Here are twelve laborers that Jesus sends out to gather the harvest. They are to do the same actions that Jesus has been doing with His power.
(Revelation of God) Jesus started with a small area of influence and built it up, and then He expanded to a larger area through His twelve disciples while He was still alive. After His death and resurrection, He consolidated that area and then sent the twelve plus more out to the rest of the Roman Empire. Jesus’ example shows us that our efforts in a small area are important. He looks at the micro as well as the macro. He can see how all the factors relate together.
(Application) Jesus said “You received without paying, give without pay.” I need to have an unselfish attitude that does not count the cost but freely gives to others. I have received a lot of confidence in my position in the world from my relationship with Jesus, so I should not look down on others who lack confidence and/or have problems, but instead, I need to give them boosts in knowing their position with God.
The disciples were to see the problems and provide cures for the problems. They were not dealing with political solutions to the problems. Instead, Jesus gave them power to solve personal situations that could not be dealt with using money. I am inadequate to solve those kind of problems. I cannot perform miracles, and I cannot transform lives, but I have to remember that God does not send me out to meet people’s needs myself. He gives me the tools that I need to accomplish the job. Instead of focusing on the results or the duties to be accomplished, I need to focus on the instructions that Jesus gave: Don’t worry about your own resources for the journey; instead, trust God to provide the resources as you go along. If your message does not meet with success, don’t mourn; shake off the dust and go on. If your peace is not received, take your peace with you away from that place.
(Prayer) Teach me to serve You with faith and help me to focus on Your instructions rather than the problems and possible problems that life brings. I am willing to serve You; give me the confidence and reassurance that is needed to be successful in Your service. Help me to understand that success is in following Your leading whether people receive the message or not.