Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (NRSV)
Read Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 on biblegateway.com
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.' Verse 16"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
Verse 17The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" Verse 18He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. Verse 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Verse 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Devotion
Jesus sent seventy disciples on an urgent mission. Their timeliness was so imperative that they didn't get to pack a bag or even stop to chat with fellow travelers on the road. They were to quickly reach new populations, teach them about the kingdom of God, minister to their needs and return to Jesus.
Do we sense the same evangelistic urgency? Certainly we live in frantic times. We often struggle to balance the needs of our families, home, and work as they all place urgent demands upon us. While all of our God-given tasks are holy, how often do we remember those who have yet to meet Jesus? When was the last time spreading the good news of Jesus Christ commanded our best attention and energy? Maybe today we can make sharing Jesus our #1 priority—at the top of our list—and become a blessing to somebody we have yet to meet.
Prayer
Jesus, we know you send us out every day to bless the world in your name. Today put us into the path of somebody who needs to meet you and give us the inspiration to share the good news of your love. Amen.