Lesson 2550

(Lesson 2550)(12-13-18) Luke 10:1-20
    “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

    Today’s quote relates that Jesus sent out seventy two of His disciples to preach His word throughout the region wherein  He would be traveling.
    This Luke account, as did the others, states that Jesus gave specific instructions to those disciples. They were to take nothing with them except the clothes they had on their backs. They were to rely totally upon the people who accepted them for their needs. Also, they were to walk away from the people who refused to listen to their message, leaving them to the judgment and wrath of God.
    I believe that the cause of Jesus Christ today would be far better served if those who claim to be His people would devote more time to seeking out willing listeners and ignoring those who have already rejected Christ.
    Church attendance is a truly blessed activity but just sitting in a pew does little to forward the word of God. Christian people should do as those seventy two disciples, we should get up, go and reach out to those outside the church, those who don’t occupy the seat next to our own every Sunday. Those lost souls who do not come to the church every time the doors swing. That is where the fields are ripest. ~