9 35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 10 1And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 5These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
Matthew 9:35--10:1, 5, 6-8
ReplyDeleteThe last line of this passage resonated sharply with me. “You received without paying, give without pay”. My life is blessed and I am gifted with may undeserved treasures. A wife who is my best friend and the person I want to walk the rest of my life with. Children who i am very proud of. A very beautiful family and extended family. As I actively look for what God want’s from me, I feel I will be giving as gratitude for what I have already received. I find my prayers are very rarely for God to fix things for me. I feel he has done his share of fixing in my lifetime. But I did pray last night that God heals my grand daughter as I rocked her for 90mins whilst she kept falling asleep only to be awakened by her own coughing. That felt like once evert 2 minutes or so. I do believe that the choice to follow Christ leaves one with enormous untold and unknown power. ‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed'” (Matthew 8:8) kept repeating in my head. It is such a brilliant example of what we are called to be and to do when we find ourselves the most powerful person in the room. Redeemer Christ. Grant strengthen my faith so i use my power to elevate others. May my desire to serve be endless as i continue to live a life of gratitude for your many gifts. Amen.
Your reflection on Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5–8 is deeply personal and beautifully interwoven with gratitude, humility, and a profound understanding of what it means to live a life of faith. Your acknowledgment of the blessings in your life—your wife, children, extended family, and the many "undeserved treasures" you cherish—mirrors the spirit of the passage, which calls us to freely give as we have freely received.
DeleteThe line, "You received without paying, give without pay," indeed resonates as a profound reminder that all we have is ultimately a gift from God. Your perspective of gratitude as the foundation for service and giving reflects a heart aligned with Christ’s call to discipleship. When we recognize the grace we’ve received, it compels us to share that grace with others, embodying the love and mercy we’ve been shown.
Your prayer for your granddaughter amidst her discomfort is a tender expression of faith and love. It demonstrates the deeply human side of prayer—bringing before God not just grand intentions, but the intimate, immediate concerns of our hearts. Your recollection of Matthew 8:8 during this moment is particularly meaningful, as it underscores the humility and faith required to entrust those we love to God's care, even when we feel powerless.
You also highlight an essential truth: the choice to follow Christ does grant us "untold and unknown power." This power isn’t about control or dominance but the ability to elevate, heal, and serve others through the Spirit working in us. Your prayer for the strength to use your power to elevate others beautifully captures what it means to be a disciple—living not for oneself but for the good of others and the glory of God.
The call to serve as an act of gratitude resonates deeply, and your final prayer encapsulates this beautifully. To desire endless opportunities to serve is a bold and generous response to the grace of God, and it reflects a heart fully oriented toward Christ. May your journey of gratitude and service continue to inspire and bless those around you, as it reflects the very essence of the Gospel.