Hometown Missionary

April 15

(Luke 8:38-39 NIV) ““The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, {39} "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.””

(Acts 26:16-18 NIV) “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. {17} I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them {18} to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

(Ezekiel 2:1-7 NIV) ““He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." {2} As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. {3} He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. {4} The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' {5} And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them. {6} And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. {7} You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.””

As Jesus was leaving town, the man who had been delivered from many demons asked to go with Him. He wanted to follow Jesus. Grateful people make great disciples. But instead of joining the Twelve, Jesus told the man to go home and tell everyone what God had done for him. This delivered demoniac was called to share the gospel, and witness to the power of Christ in his hometown area. No one who knew him before could dispute the dramatic changes in his life. Most of us won’t need to travel very far to be a missionary. Our greatest mission field is not across the sea, but across the street. Those who live around you are the most likely to notice the changes Jesus makes in you. The power of your witness will be directly tied to the genuine transformation in your life. Go and tell what Christ has done for you, but walk the talk. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day