Matthew 10: 16-20 a hard road before them

¹⁶ "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and you will even be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. ²⁰ For it are not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

The call of the twelve disciples was to preach the kingdom of heaven to the Israelites. They were sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. They were given the power and authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. These were all signs that Jesus was the Messiah that they have been waiting for. Additionally there were sent to the people of authority throughout Palestine to claim Jesus as God's Anointed and they were given their words by the Holy Spirit so that they would not be left lacking for words when it came to laboring for Christ. In our time too, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, because we are indwelt by him from the time of our salvation. He gives me and you the words we need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Daily Prayer: Father, too many times we step back when give the opportunity to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ. Beginning today, let us seize every opportunity and open door given to us so that we may be instruments of preaching the good news to a wanting world. In Jesus name and for his sake I pray Amen.