Someone who is worthy

In Matthew 10, Jesus sends the disciples out to the "lost sheep of Israel" to preach, teach, heal, raise the dead, cleanse. He tells them, "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave." (Verse 11) He gives them a few more instructions about what gear to take and what to do while they are there. But He gives them no instruction about how to recognize a worthy person. From knowing Jesus, we know that this doesn't mean those who are wealthy or powerful. It also doesn't mean the religious leaders, just because they are religious leaders. So what does it mean to be worthy?

I looked up the word. My resources say of value or merit, having worth, excellence. It also implies that to be worthy means that it is due something, like a crime is worthy of punishment, or God is worthy of praise and worship or worthy is the Lamb (Jesus).
Would I be worthy if they were coming to my town? I don't think so. I don't know many, if any, people who would send Jesus or His disciples my way saying that I am worthy of their visit. As I thought about this, I wondered if another clue to being worthy is who Jesus called to him. He called the children, saying that we should come to him as little children, willing to accept, willing to be honest and open, willing to try to please, willing to be open to possibilities and new ways of looking at things. I hope that I have at least some of those qualities.
I know Jesus. I know Him because He pursued me, offering me repeated chances to know Him, follow Him, trust Him, surrender to Him. These are things I have to do each day. Some days I am better than others. So maybe that is the answer. Some days I am worthy of the visit. Other days not so much. That's ok provided the days I am worthy increase in number as I grow in dependence upon Him. I pray I am growing in dependence upon Him. Amen.

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