The New Beginning: We Are Being Prepared to Be Sent Out!

November 15, 2012

Jesus is getting ready to send them out and He wants to make sure they understand a few things:

• Try to do this on your own and you will fail.
• Follow my direction and you will be amazed by the results.
• Make sure that everything you do is based upon the right foundation—your love for me.
• I am all you need. I don't need you to provide for me. Come to me. I will provide for you.
• Go! Feed my sheep. Take care of my lambs. 

We feel this is part of the NEW BEGINNING. We are being prepared to be sent out. Today I finished writing about the Gospels and today is two years and 364 days since I began this journey of reading through the Bible and writing my thoughts in this journal. Tomorrow, as I begin Acts—the sending out of the Church—it will be the third anniversary of when I began this journey. We believe God is preparing us to be sent out. How? When? Where? We don't know. What we do know is God is enough—and that is enough. We will follow Him and His direction.

The Exploration verses today were about people who did not follow God's direction. Achan—who disobeyed and kept things for himself. His actions affected ALL the Israelites and ultimately led to his death. Saul—who disobeyed and kept the best from the Amelkites instead of destroying it all. He tried to blame others and refused to humble himself. The king he spared (King Agag) thought enough time had passed so that the threat of death had passed. But that was not the case. Samuel finished what God told Saul to do. Then Samuel and Saul went their separate ways and Samuel never saw Saul again. There are many examples throughout the Bible of successes (people who chose to follow God's directions) and failures (people who chose to follow their own desires).

We will follow the LORD. Period. No ifs; ands; or buts. We will not bend, we will not bow, we will not break. Lord, we commit ourselves to you. Use us for YOUR service. Send us out. 

"Be strong and brave, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, because the LORD God, my God, is with you  He will not fail you for leave you until all the work for the Temple of the LORD is finished." I Chronicles 28:20

We stand amazed.

Addendum:  2/29/16 ~ I keep reading my summary of the instructions Jesus gave His followers over and over.... and over and over again.   

• Try to do this on your own and you will fail.
• Follow my direction and you will be amazed by the results.
• Make sure that everything you do is based upon the right foundation—your love for me.
• I am all you need  I don't need you to provide for me. Come to me. I will provide for you.
• Go! Feed my sheep. Take care of my lambs. 

O LORD, I want to live my life following YOUR instructions. It's all about YOU, LORD. It's all about YOU. Use me however YOU choose. May YOU always find me faithful, LORD. May YOU always find me faithful.


Next Entry: Acts 1:1 – 2:47