The Kingdom Comes to the Unworthy
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Matthew 10:5–15
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The Kingdom Comes to the Unworthy
Jesus sends His apostles to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near. Yet He does not send them because they are impressive, powerful, or self-sufficient. He sends them with nothing to boast about and everything to receive from God. Their mission depended entirely upon God’s provision and authority. The same is true of Christ’s Church today. The Gospel does not advance because of our cleverness, wealth, or accomplishments. It advances through the Word of Christ, proclaimed to sinners who need mercy. Some will receive that Word; others will reject it. The apostles were not responsible for forcing faith into hardened hearts. They were responsible for faithfully speaking Christ’s Word. And what is that Word? The kingdom has come because the King has come. Jesus went to the cross bearing the sins of those who reject Him and those who fail Him. His blood cleanses us, and His resurrection assures us that forgiveness is certain.
Matthew 10:5–15
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The Kingdom Comes to the Unworthy
Jesus sends His apostles to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near. Yet He does not send them because they are impressive, powerful, or self-sufficient. He sends them with nothing to boast about and everything to receive from God. Their mission depended entirely upon God’s provision and authority. The same is true of Christ’s Church today. The Gospel does not advance because of our cleverness, wealth, or accomplishments. It advances through the Word of Christ, proclaimed to sinners who need mercy. Some will receive that Word; others will reject it. The apostles were not responsible for forcing faith into hardened hearts. They were responsible for faithfully speaking Christ’s Word. And what is that Word? The kingdom has come because the King has come. Jesus went to the cross bearing the sins of those who reject Him and those who fail Him. His blood cleanses us, and His resurrection assures us that forgiveness is certain.
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2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
March
A RemnantA Deaf People, a Faithful GodFlee to the StrongholdCut Down to Be HealedNo Superficial PeaceStand at the CrossroadsRefined by Fire, Redeemed by the CrossTrust in the Lord, Not in Your HandsHe Flipped TablesPoured Out on JesusYou Are His PeopleTruth Has RisenSilence in the CitiesWhat Have I Done?Not a Bone Shall Be BrokenWhen Wisdom Becomes FoolishnessBitter MedicineThe Hiss of Judgment, the Promise of the CrossThe Wound of Sin and the Healing of ChristIs There No Balm?Truth at the CrossRefined by the LordScatteredRuinedDeath Has ComeBoast In The LordLike ScarecrowsNone Like Our GodGods That PerishWounded, Yet Not ForsakenDisciplined, Not Destroyed