Free to Help

 

Jesus sent the twelve men out with these instructions: “Don’t go to the non-Jewish people. And don’t go into any town where the Samaritans live. But go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that are lost. When you go, tell them this: ‘God’s kingdom is now very near.’ Heal the sick. Bring the dead back to life. Heal the people who have leprosy. And force demons out of people. I give you these powers freely, so help others freely.

(Matthew 10:5-8 ERV)

For the disciples’ first mission, Jesus sent them out with very specific instructions. They were to go only to those within their community. They were to stay close to home and not venture outside of familiar territory. They were relegated to proclaim the good news to, heal, revive and exorcise their own family members, friends and neighbours.

What a task for the first phase of their commission!

After all, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet, except in his own town, with his own people, or in his home.”  (Mark 6:4 ERV)

Knowing this truth, Jesus then reminds the twelve, “I give you these powers freely, so help others freely.”

In other translations it reads, “Freely you have received; freely give.”

This power and authority that Jesus had gifted to His disciples made them free to help others, provided the recipients were willing to receive the help.

Be mindful that this passage also tells us that these powers can neither be earned or owned. These Jesus-gifted powers are freely given to His authentic followers and are not theirs to cling to but must be freely given to anyone and everyone in need of help.

As Jesus’ disciples, we are called to be cheerful givers; we are not to hold on to powers we have freely received as a personal possession but are to be generous, giving as freely as we have ourselves received.

Having these powerful gifts is not for use as a means to control but to help others freely, embody the Kingdom, and glorify God through generous actions.

Beloved, freely you receive making you free to help so, freely give.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Free to Help” ©2025 December 13, 2025