August 16 Daily Devotional

Matthew 10; Mark 6; Luke 9

Jesus called his twelve disciples unto him and gave them power to cast out unclean spirits, to heal all manner of sickness and disease. He sent them forth, saying, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and in any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses … And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy: and there abide till ye go thence … And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake … But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak … And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another … Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the house tops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven … Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword … He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward … And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”