Christ Church Daily Devotion June 12 2024

Jesus gives power and authority to the twelve disciples to drive out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim the kingdom of God. They are instructed to take nothing with them on their journey. They go from village to village, spreading the good news and healing people. Our mission from Christ can make a big difference in the world, whether it's reaching one person or many. Christ's mission involves sharing the gospel and helping those in need. We are called to remain faithful to Christ through prayer, study, and worship. We should reflect on who introduced us to Christ and give thanks, and think about who we can help today. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for June 12, 2024. Today we will be reading from Luke chapter 9, verses 1 through 6. When Jesus had called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them, take nothing for the journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. When our Lord sends us on a mission, it's usually big in some way. Have you ever heard of Albert MacMahon? I hadn't either until researching the question of who led Billy Graham to know Christ. According to Graham's autobiography, Albert MacMahon, a young 24-year-old, was working on the Graham's family farm when he persuaded 16-year-old Billy to go see and hear Evangelist Mordecai Ham. Albert MacMahon probably had never thought that the mission Christ had given him was big in some way. But look what a difference in the world it made. His one invitation to a 16-year-old named Billy made a difference in the world. Whether we make a difference in the life of one person or many people, Christ's mission for this world, through us, reaches way beyond us. In today's scripture, Jesus sends the twelve with power and authority to drive out demons, to heal and preach the gospel everywhere. No doubt they were overwhelmed. Later, the disciples and apostles would not only cast out demons in Jesus' name, but in Acts, they baptize, heal, teach, and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus as well. Dr. Frank Stagg has noted that the last word in the book of Acts is unhindered, interpreting that when sent on Christ's mission, we are able to surmount the geographical, racial, and political barriers that we think might hinder Christ's mission. Christ's mission is both words and actions. It is sharing the gospel and bringing relief to the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, and the oppressed everywhere. As each of us are sent, we are also called to remain faithful to Christ through prayer, study, and worship. It is the relationship with Christ with which we will sustain us, which it will sustain us for the mission we have been given. Your personal worship option today? Just for a moment, ponder who invited you to meet Christ and give God thanks for that person. Now ponder who you might meet today that needs to know in word or in action that Christ cares for them. Dear Lord, may we remain faithful to your mission always. Amen.