Jesus knows our hearts better than we do. When He sends out His disciples in Matthew 10, Jesus gives specific commands, not to limit the disciples, but to prepare and encourage them for the experiences ahead. The Word of God is living and breathing, so we can learn from these same commands thousands of years later.

Live simply. Freely you have received; freely give (Matthew 10:8b). This command guards our motives. Greed and pride quickly ruin character. In the same way, heartfelt generosity can be a game-changer in someone’s life.

Be wise. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). A life dedicated to Jesus Christ might be lonely, difficult or even dangerous. Committing your life to Christ is never guaranteed to be easy, but Jesus knows how to bring joy into our lives, even in tough times.

Don’t be afraid. God give us the words to speak under pressure and calms our worrying hearts by telling us that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing. God knows every hair on our heads. Jesus tells us, “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).

You are precious to God. You were created to glorify Him and bring others toward Him. “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). Jesus has called us to love a simple, wise, fearless life because He knows His strength is all we need.

Reflect:

• Living simply isn’t easy because we’re prone to listen to an “I want it now!” mentality. What changes can you make in your budget in order to spend money more wisely? If you need help with this, check out these financial planning resources!
• If Jesus was generous with the resources He had, how can we be generous with ours?
• We all have areas where we need to practice more wisdom. Are you being wise in your conversations, money and time? If not, what changes do you need to make?