Jesus sought to establish a movement in bringing the kingdom of God to us. He enlisted twelve individuals who would spend three years learning from him and actually carrying out his ministry. However, he realized that more workers would be needed - in addition to the twelve. This brings us to our Gospel reading this Sunday, which will be the focus of my message. We have these words in the opening:
"After 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. He 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. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.'" Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
We would note what is stated regarding the folks these seventy are to reach. There are people ready to receive their message! What is needed are the people to do the harvesting. It might mean watching for cues given by the unchurched folks you might come across. They might be indicating that they are searching or are trying to heal some pain in their lives.
Jesus is also very straightforward in commissioning them. They would be sent out as "lambs into the midst of wolves." We in going out will experience opposition and dislike for our message. This apparently is all part of the territory. Yet, we will be met with success since we have the Lord behind us in what we do.
Take further note that we are to travel lightly. What might this mean for us today? Is there a lot of baggage that we carry in conversing with the unchurched or in presenting our faith? I know we can get into some strong theological arguments, but I think Jesus is saying here that we are present ourselves (and our message) in as simple a way possible that will not confuse those with whom we speak.
I would ask you to imagine yourself as one of these 70 being sent out into today's world. How would your present yourself? Then, too, I would ask you to be praying that on a larger level, the Lord of the harvest will be sending out those wanting to do mission work overseas or in a special ministry within our own country. The harvest is plentiful!
Pastor Marty
"After 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. He 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. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.'" Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
We would note what is stated regarding the folks these seventy are to reach. There are people ready to receive their message! What is needed are the people to do the harvesting. It might mean watching for cues given by the unchurched folks you might come across. They might be indicating that they are searching or are trying to heal some pain in their lives.
Jesus is also very straightforward in commissioning them. They would be sent out as "lambs into the midst of wolves." We in going out will experience opposition and dislike for our message. This apparently is all part of the territory. Yet, we will be met with success since we have the Lord behind us in what we do.
Take further note that we are to travel lightly. What might this mean for us today? Is there a lot of baggage that we carry in conversing with the unchurched or in presenting our faith? I know we can get into some strong theological arguments, but I think Jesus is saying here that we are present ourselves (and our message) in as simple a way possible that will not confuse those with whom we speak.
I would ask you to imagine yourself as one of these 70 being sent out into today's world. How would your present yourself? Then, too, I would ask you to be praying that on a larger level, the Lord of the harvest will be sending out those wanting to do mission work overseas or in a special ministry within our own country. The harvest is plentiful!
Pastor Marty
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