Luke 10:1-6
The Lord now chose seventy other
disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages
he planned to visit later.
These were his instructions to them:
“Plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers to help
you, for the harvest is and the workers so few. Go now, and remember
that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don’t take any money
with you, or a beggar’s bag, or even an extra pair of shoes. And don’t
waste time along the way.
“Whenever you enter a home, give it
your blessing. If it is worthy of the blessing, the blessing will stand;
if not, the blessing will return to you.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
If you are not an Arkansas
Razorbacks fan, substitute the images of your favorite team and one or
two of its biggest rivals in what I am about to tell you. Now, imagine
being with a group of rabid Razorbacks fans, dressed from head to toe in
your best team garb. The University of Arkansas president says, “I
want you to pair off and go down to Texas. Some of you go to Austin…the
rest of you go to College Station.” But I want you to knock on doors
and convince those folks to start rooting for the Razorbacks. Get them
to send their kids to college at the UofA and participate in Razorbacks
athletics and other school activities. Encourage them to renounce their
allegiance to the Texas Longhorns and the A&M Aggies and support
ONLY the Razorbacks in all things.
Would you do it? Even if with
every fiber of your being, you believed that the Razorbacks and the
university they represent were superior in every way…that being an
Arkansas Razorbacks fan would totally change your life – and all for the
better – could you approach someone you felt certain did not share your
beliefs and try to change their mind? Do you think some folks in Texas
would even open the door for you? And would you be worried for your
safety around those who did?
I know I’ve gone out on a ridiculous
limb here, but think about what Jesus was instructing these 35 pair of
disciples to do! He was sending them into “enemy territory” for the
most part - and in some ways saying, “Good luck out there!” But here’s
the thing…luck was not what these people needed. While Jesus knew that
they were taking big risks, He was walking with them every step of the
way. For those who listened to Jesus’ voice and trusted Him, their
obedient faith made the difference.
If you get right down to
it, Jesus is sending us out into the world just as He did those 70 early
disciples. He is telling us to interact with others…to spread the Good
News to those who may/may not want to hear it…to “put on our Hog hat
and knock on a Longhorn’s door” and invite the people inside to have a
change of heart.
On a more basic, everyday level, Jesus is
calling us to reach out to those who might differ from us in some way
and say, “I serve a Savior who died for the sins of ALL of us…Who loves
unconditionally and offers forgiveness and Eternal Life to anyone who
will give their heart to Him.” We are called to treat others as Jesus
treats us…and for some of us, that is a tall order! There is no room
for malicious talk, judgment, hateful criticism, discrimination, an air
of superiority, or unkindness of any sort. It’s no wonder that some
people put up a wall of defense or get downright nasty when we approach,
because our attitude comes across as arrogant, unloving – and anything
but “Christian.”
So “put on the whole armor of God” – nothing
more or less - and get out there and share Jesus with others.
Demonstrate His love and compassion to each person you meet. Love them
as you wish to be loved – and as He loves you. Carry the Holy Spirit in
your heart, and trust that any effort you make with a sincere and
obedient faith will make a difference. We’ll never convince many
Longhorn and Aggie fans to “convert” to our side…but with the power of
Jesus, we might just win a few souls to God’s Kingdom. And that’s worth
a Woo…Pig! Sooie!...don’t you think?!
©2016 Debbie Robus
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