Jesus’ instructions to the traveling minister in Matthew 10 are straightforward. They were to go only where they were called to go. They were called to not only preach, but minister and do works of power. They were to completely rely on God for their daily sustenance. They were also to have a particular strategy when they got to a new town.
Simply put, the first missionary trip Jesus commissioned His disciples to was to expand the Kingdom of God by bringing the Kingdom to places where it was not recognized before, even though the people there already had the Word of God and considered themselves the people of God. Jesus sends His disciples to minister first to their own culture. Going to familiar towns and villages, they were to find the ‘worthy person’ there and focus entirely on that individual and their household. The disciples were not to use a crusade approach. Jesus notes that even if finding that person involves a search, it would still be His desired approach. He said, “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.”
It is of note that Jesus’ chosen method for this missionary work was not widespread advertising advance of their arrival followed by a public meeting. Neither were they to use a mass market approach by handing out written pamphelts or announcements. Jesus also does not give instructions for a street ministry. Nor a compassionate door approach such as a soup kitchen or clothing loft. Nor a teaching ministry, or a language ministry or a sport-related outreach. No, the disciples were to use an evangelism method we now call “the person of peace” method.
It is of some significant note that Jesus’ approach is entirely dependent both on God’s providential circumstance and Spirit-led decision. The town they would find themselves coming into is the next town they could get to. That’s literally obvious. The person of peace (the “worthy person”) they would find is the person the Spirit of God leads them to discover. A person of peace is just someone who has both influence and interest in God’s purposes. You find them in your travels as God leads both your paths to cross. They express interest in you because they can sense something of God’s presence in and upon you. They express interest in your message because they want to know God better. They are able to demonstrate hospitality because they have means, and it becomes obvious as they do that, that they also know many other souls.
That may not be obvious at first glance, but it is certainly not mystical. The disciples would need to use nothing more than a bit of spiritual discernment and basic common sense. Blogger Michael James Breen put it this way, “Find the person of peace, the person who is open to you, interested in you, likes you, wants to be around you. Go to their turf, where they’re comfortable. Allow them to serve you, show you hospitality. Spend intentional time with them, and be ready to do the works of the Kingdom and speak the words of the Kingdom (in appropriate ways).”
The mission of God done the way Jesus would have us do it requires neither great resources or great pre-planning. But it does require radical obedience and radical dependance on our Father in heaven and His Spirit’s work in our lives. Being the hands and feet of Jesus always has.
Amen.
When our people cast fear to the wind and spend themselves and risk their lives and fortune in the cause of God’s truth, and in love for other people, then God is revealed for who He really is: infinitely valuable and satisfying—so much so that His people don’t need the fleeting pleasures of sin in order to be content.
John Piper
APPLICATION: Intentionality
Who has God lead you to? Who has He lead to you? How is He being glorified in those relationships?