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Today's reading: Matthew 10:1-23

'Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.' - Matthew 10:8 ESV

We ended our reading yesterday with Jesus asking all of us to ask the "Lord of the harvest to send out" workers. Now we get to see Him model that with the official choosing of his 12 disciples. Luke (6:12) records that Jesus preceded this choosing with an entire night spent in prayer.

It is interesting to note that Jesus doesn't just choose these men to fill positions. He chooses them to send them. He gives them the authority to be extensions of the work He had started.

Jesus has chosen to scale His kingdom through disciples like you and me. Honestly, I am a little intimidated by this thought. Yet, Jesus knows what He is doing.

Just like the original 12, we aren't sent out as ill-equipped workers. God gives us everything we need to do this work (see 2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Freely we have received. May we freely give.

This won't be easy, but it will be worth it.