July
8, 2001
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Later the Master selected seventy [some witnesses read seventy-two]
and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where
he intended to go. He gave them this charge:
"What a huge harvest! and how few the harvest hands. So on
your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to sent harvest hands.
"On your way! But be careful -- this is hazardous work. You're
like lambs in a wolf pack.
"Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.
"Don't loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet
along the way.
"When you enter a home, greet the family, 'Peace.' If you
greeting is received, then it's a good place to stay. But if it's
not received, take it back and get out. Don't impose yourself.
"Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker
deserves three square meals. Don't move from house to house, looking
for the best cook in town.
"When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set
before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, 'God's kingdom
is right on your doorstep!'
"When you enter a town and are not received, go out in the
street and say, 'The only thing we got from you is the dirt on
our feet, and we're giving it back. Did you have any idea that
God's kingdom was right on your doorstep?'"
. . .
"The one who listens to you, listens to me. The one who rejects
you, rejects me. And rejecting me is the same as rejecting God,
who sent me."
The seventy came back triumphant. "Master, even the demons
danced to your tune!"
Jesus said, "I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning
out of the sky. See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk
on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of
the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great
triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority
over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what
God does for you -- that's the agenda for rejoicing."
<The Message >
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1.
What a wonderful number is 70. It is the number with Moses ascending
the mountain to God (Exodus 24:1-11). It is Moses' spirit divided
to guide the community of faith (Numbers 11:16-30). It is found
in many other images of wholeness -- diversity working together.
It is a symbol of the span of life (Psalm 90:10).
What a wonderful number is 72. Aaron and his two sons are added
to the seventy heading up the mountain. Eldad and Medad were two
additional leaders who received the spirit of prophecy to help
guide the community. There is always room for more priests and
prophets. Seventy years may turn to eighty, but always we need
to use wisely the time we have.
Seventy is always on the way to seventy-two, or eighty. We need
to leave room for the marvelous call and sending of GOD in the
lives of people. We need to know what it is to live well in the
present moment.
Whether 70 or 72 -- listen for the calling and sending.
2.
The mountain has been climbed, transfiguration has occurred, the
mountain has been descended. Now what? How will this change us?
One key evaluative tool to measure the effective difference an
encounter with GOD makes is how lightly we are able to live. Do
you sense the humility and trust required to follow Jesus' instructions
in following his way? We don't force ourselves and our fundamentals
on others. We accept hospitality as it comes. We always start
by offering "peace" whether it is returned or not. We
live out of an understanding that we are living out of and in
the midst of the presence of the kingdom. This presence is as
near as our breath, it is knocking on the door from our very doorstep.
For assistance in following Jesus' instructions in living lightly
take a look at some alternatives for your life at http://www.SimpleLiving.org.
3.
When was the last time you were able to claim that you saw Satan
fall? Was it in the quiet conversation which led to someone being
comforted? Was it in the feeding of a hungry person through a
food pantry? Was it in worship when the town around you had been
hit by either a tornado or a tornado-type event disconcerting
to all? Was it in a healing through the medical arts and/or an
anointing with prayer and oil? Was it in your catching the vision
that the call and sending of Jesus was not just for yesterday,
but included you as a part of the 72, a part of the "more
than"?
So often we pass over these gifts. Let's be a bit more extravagant
in our claims, in our living! This is part of the agenda of rejoicing.