Read Luke 9:1-5
Focus on Building Relationships
One day Jesus called the 12 disciples together and did the following:
* He gave them power and authority to drive out demons, cure diseases, and to heal the sick.
* He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God.
* They were to take nothing with them (no staff to walk with, no food, no supplies, no extra clothes, etc.).
* They were to enter a town and go from house to house. If a home welcomed them they were to stay until it was time to leave that town. The goal wasn’t to get to as many homes as possible, but to find those who welcomed them and then stay there and build a relationship with them. The message of the kingdom of God would become more real to them if they spent time with them, loving them, encouraging them, praying with them, helping them with their needs, sharing or teaching them about the Lord.
* If they came to a house that did not welcome them, then they were to leave them and shake the dust off their feet as a testimony to them that they just rejected something very very important.
How can we apply this passage to our everyday life?
People need to hear about Jesus and his power to love, heal, and bring Salvation to souls.
The goal isn’t to try and get to as many people as possible and tell them about Jesus. Actually, we see the best results when we meet someone, build a relationship with them through our love, acts of kindness, encouragement, prayers, or through meeting needs.
If we can build a relationship with someone, then when we tell them about Jesus, they are more apt to listen and hear what we have to say because you built a positive relationship with them.
CHALLENGE: Pray God will give you names of people you can build relationships with and then pray for the opportunity to share Jesus with them, first with your actions, second with your words.
