Sold out for Jesus

Recently I have been studying about the healing ministry of Jesus in the four gospels and today was greatly challenged by the above scripture. I could easily have passed by these words by and barely given them a second glance, but I stopped because I felt God speaking to my heart. This was especially significant as I had prayed earlier that He would open my eyes to the truth contained in his word.

The first verse I read reminded me of what an itinerant ministry Jesus had for three years. We are told that he travelled from one village to another, preaching the good news. That meant that he laid his head on many different beds and I know from experience, how wearisome that can be sometimes. There is nothing as sweet as laying a weary body down in a familiar bed, especially when it`s your own.

There`s no place like home, but if Jesus stayed in Nazareth, the multitudes wouldn`t have heard the good news He came to bring. We then read that not only Jesus and His disciples lived this itinerant life style, so did women such as Mary, Joanna, Susanna and many others. They accompanied their Lord from `place to place` but also helped to support the work from their personal property and belongings.

What amazed me was that Jesus allowed them to do this! I want to remind you that this is the same Jesus who caused the payment for the Temple tax to be found in the mouth of a fish and whose Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Matthew 17:27 and Psalm 50:10). Surely He didn`t need the help of these formally demon-afflicted and disease-ridden women, yet He still allowed them to give. No doubt they did so both generously and sacrificially.

They didn`t give out of a sense of obligation or payment, even though they had much to be grateful and indebted to Jesus for, but rather out of a heart of thankfulness. Through their actions they were saying, `Jesus, we want to be where You are and help You to spread this wonderful good news of the Kingdom.` How their hearts must have delighted their master and king. These women were sold out for the Kingdom of God and were willing to give everything they had and were, for Jesus` disposal.

Their commitment and love greatly challenges me and causes me to look at my own heart. Am I willing to go wherever Jesus sends me and do whatever He asks of me, in order that the Kingdom can be advanced? Is everything I own at His disposal? Am I willing to go from from town to town, from country to country, so that the nations will hear the good news and respond? I also read today Jesus` words in the book of Matthew where He told His disciples that `The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the labourers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust labourers into His harvest` (Matthew 9:37-38). That can be a dangerous prayer to pray because we may find out that we`re the answer to that prayer.

Prayer: Father God, I am greatly challenged by Your word and the price that others have paid for the advancement of Your Kingdom. Help me to be a faithful disciple and child, who after counting the cost, puts my hand to the plough and refuses to look back. Take my Life. Take all that I am. Take all that I have and use it for Your glory. In Jesus` name, Amen.