In advertising, bait and switch means that you offer a product at a steep discount to get people into the store. Then, when they show up, you get them to switch to something more expensive, something that they didn’t intent to buy, something that they can’t resist.

I read the end of Matthew chapter 9 and the beginning of chapter 10 and I wonder if the disciples ever thought, “bait and switch”.

Jesus says, “Pray for workers, ask God for people to help, ask the Lord of the harvest to send people.”

And then he sends the very people he’s talking to.

They start praying. They start saying, “God, send someone.” And Jesus calls them to him and…sends them.

It’s not exactly fair, is it? I mean praying is one thing, but going is another. Praying is important, but to immediately be the answer to your own prayer feels, well, like a trick.

It would be, I suppose, if it weren’t for the fact that they weren’t charged more. When Jesus sends them, he sends them out with all the authority to do the powerful works he had been doing.

It’s like being called by your dad, being asked to run an errand and being given the keys to the 1965 red Mustang convertible.

As we read on, we’ll see that Jesus gives instructions.   He will provide explanations and expectations. He will provide cautions and clarifications. But the process that he provides is important for followers then and now.

1. Look with compassion.

2. Pray for workers to help the people needing help.

3. Be given power to work so as to not have to use your own power.

4. Be sent.

I wonder how oftem we skip the first three and go out, desiring to be spiritual. In Jesus’  model, we start with compassion and prayer.