Today, we also begin a new chapter in Luke! What is
interesting is that in this chapter we see the Lord preparing His disciples to
carry out the task of taking the Gospel to all the nations after He has
ascended into heaven. We also need preparation to continue to be a part of completing
this task before our Lord comes again! We will notice several things in Luke 9
that should help us understand what is involved in our preparation to be on mission
with Jesus to reach a lost world with His Good News of salvation!
First, I want to remind you that the greatest joy and
fulfillment in your life will not come from making a lot of money and having a
nice house or car to drive to impress people you don’t even know. It does not
come from our earthly relationship, as important as they are, being married to a
wonderful spouse, having children, and grandchildren one day. Or having a lot
of friends and success (Read Solomon’s testimony in Ecclesiastes).
No, the greatest fulfillment in life will come when you
have surrendered your life to do the will of God. Later in Luke 9:23-26 we
read: “Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever
desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake
will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and
is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him
the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His
Father's, and of the holy angels.”
The greatest fulfillment in life takes place when you live
to glorify the Father! Jesus tells us in John 15:7-8: “If you abide in Me,
and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done
for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will
be My disciples.”
You might want to read that again and think about it!
Bearing fruit that comes from God’s Word abiding in you, and you abiding in
Christ, is what pleases God and most glorifies Him! This fruit will be evidenced
by a Spirit filled life that radiates His love, His peace, His joy, His
patience, His kindness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His gentleness, and His
self-control (Galatians 5:22). And then we will experience the great joy of
seeing others come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior as we share the
message of His grace, mercy and love with the world around us!
In Luke 9:1-6, Jesus sends out the Twelve. In Jesus first
year of ministry in the region of Galilee, He had called the Twelve to be with
Him. He took them on two tours of ministry during these first two years. Now He
was going to send them out in pairs (Matthew 10; Mark 6:7) to have their own
ministry and to put into practice what they had learned. This was their
"solo flight."
But before He sent them out, He gave them the equipment
needed to get the job done, as well as the instructions to follow. Jesus “gave
them power and authority…”. Power is the ability to accomplish a task, and
authority is the right to do it, and Jesus gave both to His Apostles. They were
able to cast out demons and heal the sick, but the most important ministry He
gave them was that of preaching the Gospel. The word preach in Luke 9:6
describes a herald proclaiming a message from the king, and in Luke 9:6 it
means "to preach the Good News." They were heralds of the Good
News!
Today, we are to be His disciples, called to complete this great
task telling the world about Jesus. Are you willing to surrender, obey, and do
your part?
God bless!
