Gospel Living

He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9  but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10  And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11  And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12  So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. We’re continuing to look at the sending of the apostles, and here, Jesus’s instructions to them seem strange.  They’re to bring nothing with them—no provisions.  They’re certainly sent with an urgency, but also with a lesson.  Even though they have supernatural authority (v. 7), must still trust in the Lord for their provisions.  There’s also a hint here as to how God expects His ministers to live. The apostles had to take nothing .  They weren’t to model wealth (spo...

7  Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. … 18  And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19  but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. The Word must be in soil to grow, and it must take root in a person’s heart.   Even so, thorns and thistles can arise in the heart before the Word can bear fruit, and these weeds strangle its life.  The person who doesn’t engage in some gardening in their souls remains unaware of the life God provides. The weed of worldly cares strangles the life of the Word.  If we put our hand to the plow and turn back, more concerned for what came before, then we lack transformation through the Word.  Jesus reminds us of this with His simple command, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk 17:32).  Those who seek friendship with the ...

Lifehacker posted this chart to help you with your financial decisions (HT: Digitizd ) (Click for larger image)

From  Grace Gems . Discontent! ( Arthur Pink , "Comfort for Christians") "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Philippians 4:11 Contentment is the being satisfied with the sovereign dispensations of God's providence. It is the opposite of murmuring, which is the spirit of rebellion--the clay saying to the Potter, "Why have You made me thus?" Instead of complaining at his lot--a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are. Discontent! Was there ever a time when there was so much discontent and restlessness in the world, as there is today? We very much doubt it. Despite our boasted progress, the vast increase of wealth, the time and money expended daily in pleasure--discontent is everywhere! No class is exempt. Everything is in a state of flux, and almost everybody is dissatisfied. Many even among God's own people are affected with the evil spirit of this age. Content...