Settled Commitment (Matt. 10:11)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/1/2021 10:01 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Settled Commitment

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Matthew 10:11

 

            Message of the verses:  “11 "And into whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it; and abide there until you go away.”

 

            We will be looking at the sixth principle of ministry that Jesus teaches, and it is in two parts.  The first part we see that a person is to find a proper place to stay while ministering in a certain location, and then number two he is to be satisfied to remain there until all his work is done in that location.

 

            As we look at the word “worthy” it does not necessarily mean wealthy or influential but does refer to the spiritual and moral character of the host.  So as the apostles would go into a city or town in order to share about the kingdom of God they were to seek out someone to stay with who was known to be godly, and who had integrity and a lifestyle beyond question in the community.  If this was not done then the ungodly association would harm both their own spirituality and also the effectiveness of their testimony.  While listening to the sermon that goes along with this section from Matthew 10 John MacArthur spoke about staying in what could be called a “seedy” motel to which he had to get out of there in order to not be associated with what went on there.

 

            Now as the apostles found a proper place to stay they were to stay there as long as they were in that town.  The minister is not to keep his eye out for a better place to stay while there but to stay where he first goes to.  He is there for the purpose of sharing Christ not to be looking out for a nicer place to stay.

 

            MacArthur concludes “Such contentment and humble satisfaction will also benefit the minister’s own spiritual life, because, Paul assures us, ‘godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment’ (1 Tim. 6:6).  In his own ministry Paul had ‘learned to be content in whatever circumstances’ he was in.  He knew ‘how to get along with humble means,…to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance.’  He had ‘learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need,’ because he had learned that he could do all things through Christ, who strengthened him (Phil. 4:11-12).”

 

10/1/2021 10:16 AM