But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)
Without Cause by Cathy Vinson |
"Freely (without cause) you have
received, freely give" (Mt 10:8) What ever happens without cause? Almost everywhere we turn we see the God. He loves be"cause" He loves; He gives to us be"cause" He gives. From early in our lives, much that comes our way has been based on our performance. Then in relation to serving God, we find it hard to believe He gives to us because of Himself. Oh, we need a different reception of His abilities! Thomas Merton wrote of "watching ourselves live." Isn't this why we continue to substitute religious activity for His enablement? In Matthew 10 Jesus calls His disciples to Himself, then sends them out. "Sent-out ones" are called apostles. Being sent out from Jesus meant an apostolic mission. From His initiative they received authority (exousia-freedom of action, right to act; previously meant liberty of doing as one pleases, later developed to mean ability, strength and authority). How did Jesus impart such a right of authority? Jesus said "FREELY you have received..." (Mt 10:8). Freely (from dorean) meant as a gift. Elsewhere the same word was rendered "without cause" (Gal 2:21), "without reason" (Jn 15:25), and "free of charge" (2 Cor 11:7). This gives us a sense of how the disciples received this imparting. Are we humble to receive in this manner? side-stepping our performance, without a cause or reason in ourselves? In turn, "...freely give." The disciples left Jesus with the right to exercise authority at will, it seems. Now they could go out in the liberty that arises out of Jesus' initiative and minister the power of preaching, healing, and delivering in freedom. They would give gifts to many others, in the same way as they received, "without cause." |
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So Lord, the one You love is sick (John 11:13) |
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Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE
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