Matthew 10:1-15   Jesus chose 12 men to be His disciples.. His students.. His friends.  He called them to follow and they chose to leave everything else behind to go with Him.  Now, Jesus sends them out to do the works He prepared them for.. "He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness." (v1) 

These 12 men were each unique in there own ways.. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen, but their personalities were quite different.  We know little of Philip and Bartholomew, Thaddeus and the other James or Simon the Zealot.  We know Matthew was a tax collector and Judas Iscariot was the betrayer.. and Thomas was the doubter..  but we don't know much else about them.  Yet, these men would all play a significant part in the kingdom of God and the furtherance of the gospel. 

They all went out. They all preached the good news.. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."  They all healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and cast out demons. They all gave freely and took nothing in return. They all blessed those who received them and shook the dust off their feet when they were rejected.  They went out.. with the Words of Jesus ringing in their ears.. "Beware... " 

Discipleship is not for the weak of heart.. it is for those who are willing to be "poor in spirit".  Willing to lay it all down for Jesus. Willing to trust that God the Father cares for you more than He does the sparrows. ".. do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.. "  The most precious song that we can sing is "His eye is on the sparrow.. so I know He watches me.. " How is it that we forget this so easily? 

Discipleship means living for Jesus.. confessing Him before men.. putting Him before anyone or anything else..  laying down Your life.. taking up your cross and following Him through whatever the day brings.  Whether we are accepted by others or rejected.. it doesn't matter. Whether we live or die.. even that does not matter.. What does matter is that we are found in Him.. enduring until the end!  Let us be found faithful..in the big things and in the small things.. like giving a cup of cold water to one who needs it. 

Father in heaven, You call us to  a life that we are not capable of living.. unless You live in us by Your Spirit.. fill us and keep us walking in the way, the truth and the life that Jesus gives. It is in His name we come. Amen.