Luke 10:1-11 (NRSV)
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Chapter 10After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. Verse 2He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Verse 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Verse 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Verse 5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' Verse 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Verse 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Verse 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; Verse 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' Verse 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, Verse 11'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
Devotion
The key reason for spreading the Good News of Jesus is that there are people out there who are ready to believe it. The harvest is plentiful. However, if we are going to witness to who Christ is and what he has accomplished for each person, we need to be intentional. Jesus sends. He sends us. Go into all the world, into one’s little worlds. We are to be focused, persistent and resilient. There will be rejection, opposition. That should not discourage us. Simply believe as Paul did in Corinth when many opposed him. God told him, “Do not be afraid, but speak ... for I am with you ...for there are many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9-10).
Is your congregation mobilizing and training you to bring Christ’s message to those around you? How about talking this over with your pastor?
Prayer
Lord, keep us focused on the harvest you see and not on our own distractions. Awaken us to see that our congregation is sent. Stir us and equip us to be faithful to your call. Amen.