Family First
It is important to tackle the mission you are sent to do first.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. - Matt. 10:5-15
I used to think Jesus was being selective, wanting his friends to go to the children of Israel and not to others, but I have changed my mind recently.
I think he wanted to reach those people, his people, first.
My dad used to say that family comes first, and I think that is the message here.
It can also apply to what is happening in Israel today. Take care of family first seems to be the strategy of the Israeli Defense Forces, going after those who are responsible for the killing and kidnapping of family.
When we discover that someone in our family has been harmed, we react. Suddenly, a tragic event that was about other people, becomes something real and personal to us.
This is how people all over the world feel about those who were brutally slain.
It became personal.
It became real.
So, Jesus sends his friends out to save the family members first. They are the ones closest to his heart.
Later, he will get to the others.
Someday, we will all see each other as family.
Then, and only then, will the killing stop.
More to come...