But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NASB.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

And in our chapter, Matthew 10, Jesus, the Son speaks to His disciples and gives instructions for their time with Him and for the times beyond. The truth of Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, is for eternity. Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. v. 1-8. He tells them not to take extra money or physical provisions but to stay in the homes of those worthy who receive them, “If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” v. 9-16. And then for what will be in the future…“Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. v. 17-23. Can you imagine hearing these words from Jesus as they prepared to go out? Yet Jesus reminds them not to be afraid. “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care…Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household (Micah 7:6)’. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it. Anyone who welcomes you welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is My disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” v. 26-29, 32-42.

They have been listening as Jesus taught them and others as they watched; and now it’s time for them to go out and share what Jesus has entrusted with them so others can know that the kingdom of heaven has come near. Creator God is the Kingdom of Heaven and it is a Spiritual kingdom. And Jesus, the Son, is sharing that His Father is their Father! The light of God’s love and truth (The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God-Ephesians 6:17) is so beautiful and needed and that is why Jesus came to live among us. Their small world experience couldn’t prepare them to understand how you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. And they will not be alone. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you…Anyone who welcomes you welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. This is a lot to absorb! They only had 3 years with Jesus teaching them, living with them, sharing Himself and the Father’s love with them. It was enough! And more would be given after His resurrection when He sent the Spirit to be with them always. For us…His children dearly loved. One day the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all people, (Joel 2:28). The Kingdom of Heaven. Creator God’s love for us vanquishing all sin and darkness. For so many, that will be the first time they will be able to turn to Him and behold Him who loves them and gave Himself for them. What a hope and a joy!