January 26, 2026

JESUS IS WORTH EVERYTHING
Matthew 10:1-15  (HCSB)
Commissioning the Twelve
10 Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the 12 apostles:
First, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew;
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot,
who also betrayed Him.
5 Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge. 9 Don’t take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker is worthy of his food.
11 “When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.15 I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

T.W. Mitchell
Studying about the Lord’s disciples and apostles we tend to wonder how a bunch of independent misfits could come together and accomplish anything with lasting results. We could wonder how the Lord could get their attention to be on mission with him. Remember when He told Phillip to feed the 5,000? Phillip replied, “Lord, we can’t do it.” Jesus said, “have them to sit down.” Another time, when Jesus said, “I’ll see you on the other side of the lake.” Then, in the storm they woke Him saying, “we’re all going to die!” These verses applied to His apostles at a specific period of time. In Matthew 10:5,16, Jesus told them twice, “I am sending you.” They were assured in all they did His power would work through them and provide every need. As God’s children we are to be on mission with Him every day. We must always know He wants to do more through us than we could ever ask or think. An old-time preacher I used to listen to, Manley Beasley, went through some of the worst life experiences. In his later years he had seven diseases at the same time. Yet, he still preached. He said, “God wants to work in you more than you want Him to work. He will never send you to the store to buy a $10 item with $9 in your pocket.”