The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Whatever is coming our way, God has shown he can handle it.

Upon seeing the title today I'm sure many a mind drifted to an old spaghetti western with Clint Eastwood. Although, this message really has nothing to do with that classic movie. The idea of there being something good, bad and ugly in this passage is what jumped off the page at me.

Lets read the scripture before we go any further.

Matthew 10:7-14

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

SO, what's good in this passage? 
Because, at first glance, it doesn't look like there is much good at all in here.
"The kingdom of heaven has come near." That sounds good.
The One who is giving the message is pretty good. He is what is good about this passage.
He is the One who sends out the twelve. And, what exactly did he say to them in other places?

"My Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you."
"Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me."
"My joy I give to you."
"I will never leave you nor forsake you"
"Lo, I will be with you always"
"I will give you my Holy Spirit"

He wants his disciples to know that they are not alone. This whole work of evangelism does not rest on their shoulders alone. He will be there to lean on and depend on. Isn't that comforting to know?

I believe in passing the buck when it fits. Here it is. He is the one sending us out to reach the world. Pas the buck to him when sharing the gospel message. Put it all on Him. He can handle it. He carried the sins of the whole world on the cross. He wants us to depend on him. Lean on him when you are not strong. He'll be your friend. He'll help you carry on. That's pretty good.

Alright, so what's bad about this passage?
Well, verses 9 & 10 don't sound too good here.
He tells the disciples to not take any gold or silver or any extra clothes. Not even a bag.
They are to go with nothing. That sounds bad. "You mean I can't take anything?" Nope.
Not even $5 in your wallet just in case you're hungry when you get there.
Nothing as a back up plan just in case things don't work out like you planned.
Be completely dependent upon Him. That's how He wants it.

Christian author, Ken Gire, references the manger story in his writing from his book, "Intense Moments with the Savior". He speaks about the scene where the wise-men come and offer gifts to Mary and Joseph. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Very expensive gifts. But, maybe in our culture, we miss the emphasis. Many of us would see three expensive gifts like this and think that we are supposed to display them for guests to see. We would place them above the fireplace and show them off when folks come over. That's not what God had in mind.

The scriptures say that an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take the boy to Egypt to escape Herod's sword. Gire writes as only he can, stating that Joseph would have bolted upright as he awoke. Shaking Mary awake and telling her the dream, they gather their things. He must be thinking "Egypt? Why Egypt? And what will I do when I get there? How will a foreigner like myself find work? How will I provide for my family?" And, then it dawns on him. The gold, the frankincense, the myrrh. Three items worth much in trade or sale. Not only has God pointed the way. God has provided the way.

God wants us to depend on him. And, when things look bad, there's no better time or situation.

Well, that just leaves us with the ugly. So, what ugly about this passage?
Same thing we have been talking about all this month. Some folks are not going to like the message.

¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

In the Old Testament , it would have been customary for a prophet to do such a thing. If the people in an area or providence listened to the message, they would find forgiveness, hope and healing. If they did not listen, well, you shook the dust off your feet as sign against them. No peace for this place. No forgiveness. You move on and you leave that behind.

We need to brace ourselves as we go forth to prepare for the this moment. Some people are not going to want to listen to the message. This is truth. Not everyone is going to want to accept the message of Christ. Some will and that's wonderful. Some will not and that's just how it is. There's not a whole lot that we can do about it. We move on and find someone who will listen.

And, when it is all done, we get to see our Savior.
We get to hear words like "Well Done".
Thanks you for enduring all this for my sake. Enter. Well done good and faithful.

In the midst of a bad and ugly world, that's some pretty good stuff to look forward to.