To Be Sent
Have you ever thought about what it truly means to be sent by God? In Luke 9:1-11, Jesus calls His disciples together, gives them power and authority, and sends them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. This wasn’t just a task—it was a clear call to action, a shift from being observers of Jesus’ ministry to participants in His mission.
This passage challenges us to think about our role in God’s work. Here are three things to consider or further reflect upon.
1. Empowered by Jesus
When Jesus sent the disciples, He empowered them with the ability and authority to act against spiritual and physical brokenness. This wasn’t about gifting or status—it was about being enabled by Jesus for His mission.
The same is true for us. Anything we do for God flows from His power, not our own. We can’t boast about the work He does through us because it all begins and ends with Him. Our part is to faithfully step out in obedience, trusting His empowerment as we serve.
2. Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
The disciples were sent to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal. While healing and deliverance were important, they weren’t the ultimate goal—they were signs pointing people to God’s Kingdom. Jesus Himself modeled this focus. When crowds begged Him to stay and perform more miracles, He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent” (Luke 4:43).
It’s a reminder to us not to get distracted by temporary successes or applause. We might be tempted to focus on what people see or what makes us feel significant, but our mission is clear: to point people to Jesus. What good is it to meet someone’s earthly need but fail to lead them to the One who meets their eternal need?
3. Jesus Never Stops Proclaiming the Kingdom
Even after empowering the disciples, Jesus didn’t move on to what might be considered “more important” work. He didn’t take a step back or leave the task to others. Instead, He continued teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. When the disciples returned to Him, He didn’t act like His role had changed. He welcomed the crowds, healed the sick, and taught them about God’s Kingdom.
This shows us something important: proclaiming the Kingdom of God isn’t something we graduate from. No matter how long we’ve been walking with Christ or how much responsibility we’ve been given, the core mission never changes. Like Jesus, we’re called to stay faithful to the work of making God known.
Reflect and Respond
- Do you know Jesus personally, or are you just familiar with His name?
- Are you staying focused on pointing people to God, or have other things taken priority?
- How can you follow Jesus’ example of faithfulness in proclaiming the Kingdom of God?
A Prayer to Be Sent
God, thank You for inviting us to join in the spiritual work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Help us to stay faithful, focused, and dependent on You. Teach us to follow Jesus' example and never lose sight of what truly matters. Empower us to make Your name known and to serve others with humility and love. Amen.
As you go through your week, remember that being sent by God isn’t just for a select few—it’s for all of us. You don’t need to rely on your own strength or ability because He’s the One who empowers you. Step out in faith and trust Him to use you to bring others into His Kingdom.