Matthew 10:5-7 ESV 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.
As a Gentile, I always felt a bit put off when I read this passage. I know that Israel has a special place in God’s heart. I also know that God would soon open His offer of salvation to the Gentiles. For some reason though, it stings a little that the Gentiles got left out of this event.
Does God love the Gentiles and Samaritans? Of course He does, but this wasn’t the time for them. In God’s timing and plan, this evangelistic tour was for the Jews exclusively.
When God gives us an assignment, we must be very careful to follow His instructions fully. God has a reason when He tells us to do something is a certain way or at a specific time. Often that reason is known only to Him. Sometimes we find out later, many times not.
The devil always wants to distract us and try to keep us from fulfilling God’s calling in our life. If the devil can’t keep us from serving he will try to get us to do too much to make us ineffective. He may try to get us to change the parameters of the assignment also making us less effective.
Listen to God. Do what He wants, when He wants, how He wants. If we are faithful to those concepts then God will bless the work He has given us and make it fruitful.
Lord, thank You for allowing me to participate in the awesome things You are doing. Give me ears to hear and a heart to faithfully obey.
2 Replies to “Matthew 10:5-7”
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Yessir. I get reminded of the passage regarding our generosity, “first to the household of faith,,,” and the response to the question “Lord, where will we find food for this multitude” – “You feed them” . Seems to relate to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”. Thanks for another great post and Prayer.
Jesus gave them a task. In that case with no specific instructions. When they began to obey His command … “We have five loaves and two fish …” then God made their efforts fruitful.