Get Back On Track!

For Thursday, March 9, 2023:

Matthew 10:5-6 NLT: “Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: ‘Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.’”

Jesus was sending the 12 on a mission trip, to spread the Good News that the Kingdom of Heaven was near, and that there was now a New Covenant! At this point, their target market wasn’t to be the entire world. They were to begin by getting God’s chosen people – the people of Israel – back on track. Man-made rules and traditions had clouded their worship, and it was time to return to God’s intent. In Jesus’ words, they were like sheep without a shepherd!

In the 1500’s, man-made ceremony and traditions were again central in the church. Martin Luther compared what they were doing with what the Bible said, and made a list of what was incorrect. For all his trouble, he was thrown out of the church, but nowadays we know he was right. Good works don’t get you into heaven. Neither does paying a certain sum. Salvation is a gift that we can’t buy, and faith in Jesus is the key! We are saved by grace through faith!

Plenty of churches nowadays are not honoring the Bible’s commands, and we need to pray that they get back on track. It always bothers me when churches with “Jesus” in their name aren’t living like he instructed. Pray that those with a high view of the Bible are sustained.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship