Start small

Jesus prayed for harvest hands and wham! the 12 disciples appeared. It's amazing to think that this didn't happen until chapter 10.

This section is wrapped in paradox: "Christ gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives." Most of what follows is on either extreme: small and gentle or hardcore. If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly...that is, unless you're called to be a teddy bear.

What it amounts to is that we are to be bold and powerful in our faith, but in a respectful way.

On the one hand...
"Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood."
"You are the equipment. Travel light."
"Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave."
"Be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw."
"Don't call attention to yourselves. Be inoffensive as a dove."
"Don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it."

Then the text takes a turn on this hinge point, "When people realize it is the living God you are presenting, they are going to turn on you. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate!"
So on the other...
"Don't quit. Don't cave in. Be survivors!"
"Don't be intimidated. Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies."
"Stand up for me. Don't think I've come to make life cozy."
"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."

Then we come full circle, "This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice."

Be bold, be strong for the Lord your God is with you. Do a little bit of kingdom work this holiday season. It's addicting.