Monday 26th May
Read Luke 9:1-2
“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal those who were ill.” (NIVUK)
Sometimes Christian traditions emphasise one aspect of following Jesus at the expense of another. Some believe the primary goal of mission is to save people’s souls and invest their resources in evangelism as their first priority. Others focus on the physical needs of the poor, weak and unwell and develop programs of social justice that eventually form the basis of the welfare state in many countries. As we embark on a journey through Luke 9 it is important to notice that when Jesus granted power and authority to His disciples, He tasked them do both. Disciple-making demands we care for bodies and souls equally.
Disciple-making, as we will see, is both a gift and a privilege. We are tasked and empowered to continue the mission Jesus Himself began two thousand years ago. A humbling responsibility that we will spend the rest of our lives discharging. We will fumble and make mistakes, just as the first disciples did. We will exasperate our Lord and fail in many ways. Despite it all God will build His kingdom and restore people to Himself, body and soul. He taught us to pray for precisely that outcome, every day. Spend time today doing just that.
