Verses: Luke 10 : 1 - 24
My thoughts about the verses:
I can imagine standing there with Jesus. He calls this group of 70 followers together and challenges them to go spread the good news. Go to the different towns and if welcomed live there and share the news. Do not move around from one house to the next rather stay where you are welcome and those with a willingness to hear will come.
Yet, at the same time there would be those that would turn the 70 away. They would not have a place to rest just like Jesus did not have a place to lay his head. Towns that do not offer you a place you are dust the sand off of your feet and leave. Do not force people that will not listen to hear the word. Go out and reach those that are willing and open to hear the good news.
In today's society it is hard to imagine going to a town and depending on others to take care of your basic needs. Yet, you have to understand that the customs were different at the time of Jesus. The community knew that they were supposed to take care of the outsider. They were to help them and to treat them with respect. The fact that some would not even give them a bite of food showed that they were not ready to hear about the Savior that had come to the world.
The implications of this scripture can be seen two ways. The first way is to turn totally away from those that do not accept you the first time. To curse them to a place that is far worse than this world can understand. The second way is to go and reap the harvest that is ready. When those that hear what is happening to others they will come seeking for themselves.
See we have to understand that we will run into people that will reject what we believe. Jesus didn't want the followers to believe that they would be accepted at face value wherever they went. Just like Jesus they would be turned away from places that they had been welcomed before. They were to get back up and walk proudly to the next town and start again.
In my eyes I feel that the harvest can only be reaped when it is totally ready. You cannot cultivate in soil that is not prepared properly. So you have to give the seed time to grow and need water before you can spread the good news. People who have the desire and willingness to hear will. They will then choose to follow God or not. So it is at these places where we are to concentrate our efforts. People, that are ready to hear the good news, need to have an opportunity to hear. If you move from one place to the next when you have come to a group willing to hear you may miss those that need the good news.
Does that mean that we should never go back to those that didn't welcome us? The fact is they may not welcome us but they may welcome another believer who can share the news. There may even come a time when we go back and meet with them. The principle to understand is God will lead you where you need to go. You will know that you are in the right place because your needs will be met. You will be able to share the good news if you step aside and let God do the work.
Prayer:
Thank you for loving us. Dear God we give honor and praise to your name because we know that you are Holy. We ask that you help us be an instrument of peace to the world. Help us reach out to those that need to hear your story. Help us to step out of the way and allow you to work through us. In the name of the Holy One we pray. Amen
Questions:
My thoughts about the verses:
I can imagine standing there with Jesus. He calls this group of 70 followers together and challenges them to go spread the good news. Go to the different towns and if welcomed live there and share the news. Do not move around from one house to the next rather stay where you are welcome and those with a willingness to hear will come.
Yet, at the same time there would be those that would turn the 70 away. They would not have a place to rest just like Jesus did not have a place to lay his head. Towns that do not offer you a place you are dust the sand off of your feet and leave. Do not force people that will not listen to hear the word. Go out and reach those that are willing and open to hear the good news.
In today's society it is hard to imagine going to a town and depending on others to take care of your basic needs. Yet, you have to understand that the customs were different at the time of Jesus. The community knew that they were supposed to take care of the outsider. They were to help them and to treat them with respect. The fact that some would not even give them a bite of food showed that they were not ready to hear about the Savior that had come to the world.
The implications of this scripture can be seen two ways. The first way is to turn totally away from those that do not accept you the first time. To curse them to a place that is far worse than this world can understand. The second way is to go and reap the harvest that is ready. When those that hear what is happening to others they will come seeking for themselves.
See we have to understand that we will run into people that will reject what we believe. Jesus didn't want the followers to believe that they would be accepted at face value wherever they went. Just like Jesus they would be turned away from places that they had been welcomed before. They were to get back up and walk proudly to the next town and start again.
In my eyes I feel that the harvest can only be reaped when it is totally ready. You cannot cultivate in soil that is not prepared properly. So you have to give the seed time to grow and need water before you can spread the good news. People who have the desire and willingness to hear will. They will then choose to follow God or not. So it is at these places where we are to concentrate our efforts. People, that are ready to hear the good news, need to have an opportunity to hear. If you move from one place to the next when you have come to a group willing to hear you may miss those that need the good news.
Does that mean that we should never go back to those that didn't welcome us? The fact is they may not welcome us but they may welcome another believer who can share the news. There may even come a time when we go back and meet with them. The principle to understand is God will lead you where you need to go. You will know that you are in the right place because your needs will be met. You will be able to share the good news if you step aside and let God do the work.
Prayer:
Thank you for loving us. Dear God we give honor and praise to your name because we know that you are Holy. We ask that you help us be an instrument of peace to the world. Help us reach out to those that need to hear your story. Help us to step out of the way and allow you to work through us. In the name of the Holy One we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you been afraid to go somewhere new to share God's story? Are you willing to take that extra step so someone can find the peace they need today? Have you become discourage because you feel as if no one is listening? Is it time to go to fertile ground to share the news? Are you allowing God to work through you?
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