DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2023-02-15
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:8-11; 16;
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 8-9 “If a town welcomes you, follow these two rules:
(1) Eat whatever is set before you.
(2) Heal the sick; and as you heal them, say, ‘The Kingdom of God is very near you now.’
10 “But if a town refuses you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom. Never forget how close you were to the Kingdom of God!’ 
16 Then he said to the disciples, “Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And those who reject you are rejecting me. And those who reject me are rejecting God who sent me.”

APPLICATION: When going on a trip, we anxiously try to ensure that we have everything packed, all traveling and hotel documents in order, and research on the points of interest we want to visit. For the 70 who were called by Jesus, their travel assignment started out quite differently, and I wonder how we would have accepted the advanced warnings handed to us by Jesus! Here are some interesting points that were quite different for the disciples, than anything we may have ever experienced:
1. I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves – Quite the opposite to what we try to plan for on our trips, right? There are public websites now that will tell you the safe countries to visit, but how many of us would go, if we knew that we were being sent into a country of ‘wolves’ or terrorists, or criminals, or gangs?
2. Take no money, or a beggar’s bag, or shoes, with you – I wonder if any in the civilized world would even consider leaving home for another country without any money?
3. Living accommodations – no hotels or inns, but to strictly live with families who will welcome in strangers. First of all, today it is virtually impossible to find anyone who would have a stranger come and live with them, not even church members or leaders. But there’s more – eat what they offer you and stay there for the duration of your trip. Can’t you hear the questions running through our mind about such an arrangement?
4. Accepted vs Unaccepted – Of course we will worry about whether the townspeople will accept us and our message. We don’t want to get caught in a bad situation. But Jesus knew this would be a worry to His disciples, so He paved the way – the minds and attitudes of the people, and He was therefore able to tell the disciples what to do, depending on how the people would react.
Friends, I believe that Jesus wanted to make sure His disciples knew that they were just messengers. Just follow the Master’s instructions and be ready to share His message of love and hope; heal the sick; live among the people; and tell them of their plight if they reject you and your message. Does that not ease the burden on us individually if we know that Jesus is in control; only He could speak directly to the hearts of the people; He is the great Healer, and He will heal as He sees fit; There’s no burden He can’t lift, and no heart too hard that He can’t soften, so just let Him be God. That’s not our role, and we must never try to assume the God position when it comes to meeting the needs of His people. I am convinced that things are no different today, so why are churches lacking in volunteers to serve around the ministries of the church? Why is there such a scare when missions trips are planned. Oh, that we would learn to be like the disciples in our Scripture today – go in Jesus’ name, knowing that we don’t need to be Him, just listen to His voice, obey His call, and allow Him to be God – even through our simplicity and trust.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for being so considerate as to explain everything in such detail for the 70 disciples as they were commissioned to go, tell, heal and show Jesus to the people. Our mission today sounds so familiar, and since we serve the same God, I am convinced that, since you are the same today as You were in Bible days, then You will calm our minds to understand how You are still in control and will guide, protect and provide for those who go in Your name. Perhaps a reader or listener is dealing with a decision to let go and let God have His way in their ministry and/or mission. I pray that You will speak through these simple devotional thoughts to encourage them and help them make decisions that will be pleasing to You. Use us Lord for Your kingdom work as You see fit. AMEN!