September 2, 2021 -- Luke 10:1-3 -- Strong Accountability for the Faith

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Luke 10:1-3 ESV

Notice how the reading begins: “after this”. Just prior to our reading today, several people had approached Jesus. Jesus commanded one to follow Him, but the person was focused on family matters. Notice, these were significant family matters, like the burial of a father. Jesus had told him, “leave the dead to bury the dead and follow Me and proclaim the Kingdom of God” (9:60). There were three incidents and three times those who heard Jesus made excuses. After these things, these incidents, while this was fresh on the minds of the readers, we are told Jesus sent men out two by two.

How easy it is to make excuses. How easy it is to say, “tomorrow I’ll do this or that”. How easy it is to falter in devotion to Jesus and look to things (even important things) like family, and then falter in devotion to the task at hand. A disciple sent alone into the mission field to prepare the way for Jesus could be dissuaded from obedient faithfulness, two brothers committed to the LORD and to His work, will convince one another to remain faithful and continue in obedient in proclaiming the kingdom of God.

Who is your partner in Gospel proclaiming work? Who motivates you to stick to the task at hand and not collapse under the weight of family pressures, or work pressures, or former habitual sins? Who has the permission in your life to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ so that in all things you follow Him?

Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world, thank You for the witness of Scripture and the teaching which directs our living today. By the power of Your Spirit within the context of godly community may our lives be found faithful in service to our Father in heaven. Amen.

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