Looking For The Worthy

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

LOOKING FOR THE WORTHY

Matt 10:11-16

11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

NIV

these are further instructions from Jesus to his disciples. Although this is talking about his disciples going from town to town it is also interesting how this could apply to our hospitality as well as our receiving hospitality from churches that we attend. We could say that in this scripture the word home can be translated as a church not necessarily the Greek word but in the meaning, in the context, we could say as you enter a church give it your greeting if the church is deserving let your peace rest on it if it isn't let your peace return to you. It would be a really sad thing if we had to shake the dust off our feet as we left a church. we cannot imagine any church that would refuse to be hospitable, but it seems that may be the case every so often. However, it is interesting that we are told or his disciples were told to find a home that is worthy or find a worthy person. It is interesting the Greek word translated as worthy carries the meaning of having weight or in that particular sense of a person being deserving or one who has merited anything. However, it is also able to be looked at on a personal note in regards to whom we share the gospel with. as Jesus told his disciples if someone would not listen to them to shake the dust off their feet and leave that home or town. There are many people in our world today who are not willing to listen to our words, refusing to hear any truth that contradicts their truth. Any truth that is not based on the word of God, is not truth. We have actually heard people tell us that they live by their own truth and that's what's important as long as we live by what we believe we're living in the right way. We have also heard them tell us that it seems stupid to follow a book that was written by men thousands of years ago and it has no meaning today. But the point still remains that just as Jesus told his disciples to go out into towns and villages sharing the good news, we too have been told to share the good news, being witnesses for Jesus. However, we need to be aware of those who are hospitable to our words, shaking the dust off our feet when we encounter unhospitable people. This is what Jesus told his disciples to do if a home or a town was unhospitable, not willing to listen to their words to leave it. We know that God has turned unworthy people who refuse to accept Jesus, accept his word that he turns them over to their reprobate minds. We cannot judge people as to their destination or their destiny, however, we can judge whether or not they are worthy or unworthy to listen to our words based on their hospitality and willingness to listen. To those willing to listen give them the peace of Christ and let that peace of Christ rest on their lives. That fits right in with the fruit of the spirit as we encounter people the spirit manifesting his fruit within us and allowing people to pick that peace, that love, and the joy of knowing Jesus. Let us continue to search for those who are worthy.