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Scripture
Later the Lord chose seventy-two other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go.
He said to them: A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. Don’t take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don’t waste time greeting people on the road. As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don’t move around from house to house.
If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer.
Luke 10:1-8 (CEV)
Reflection
In this story, Jesus sent out 72 people to help build God’s Kingdom and reinforce what principles had been laid down before his presence was known and felt throughout the land. Those great stewards and messengers before him helped to plant the seed. Jesus came to demonstrate and show how to nurture, grow, and harvest that seed so that nations could live off of that spiritual ‘fruit’ forever.
When you read further passages, you will see how the 72 returned ecstatic that even the demons bowed down when Jesus’ name was mentioned. Jesus stated that he watched Satan fall from heaven during this demonstration of God’s omnipotence and omnipresence; and that the men shouldn’t be ecstatic simply because some demons bowed down and were defeated—they should be overjoyed at the fact that all 72 of the men had their place in heaven.
They did God’s work as Jesus instructed without question, doubt, faltering, complaining, or making adjustments to their orders. They were disciplined. They were not greedy or needed to move from home to home, looking for a better situation. The metaphorical ‘grass’ was green enough in the yard they were in—they were satisfied.
Can we say the same about ourselves? Are we satisfied with the place we’ve been instructed to go, reside, and work? Are we doing our part with 100% effort? Are we showing Jesus and God that we deserve more and greater, by being on time and doing a good job? Are we showing Jesus and God that we deserve more and greater by taking care of our worldly possessions on loan to us?
Or do we leave things messy, dirty, half-fixed, and worse than when we got them? Are we grateful for the food and clothing that we have? Or are we always envying and desiring better—when we haven’t done our part to earn and deserve better? Are we satisfied with those people around us who care, nurture, protect, and guide us? Or are we always looking next door or down the street, wondering if someone is better out there for us?
We’ve all been given tasks to complete; no questions are to be asked. Upon completion, you will be granted your blessings—rewarded for a job well done. Why are we not committed enough to do our jobs? It’s no wonder many of us get written up or fired at work for mediocre job performance, attendance issues, and subordination. We can’t do the job that God has commanded even though Jesus mapped out the steps. So why should we be committed, disciplined, and willing to do an easy job at someone’s company?
Do you see how the two are tied together? Do you see how all of this is tied together? We must strive and accomplish doing our jobs, daily, with 100% effort, and no pushback (unless you have an ethics issue, of course). While we do our job, we’re also doing some of the work God assigned us. When we clock out and leave that office, etc. we are then devoting more time towards God’s Kingdom work.
Every single day this is our mission. Every single day you are to be a blessing to others. That is how we receive our numerous blessings. It’s a beautiful cycle that nurtures and harvests some amazing ‘fruit.’
What are you willing to commit to today to be a better person, to be a blessing to others, and to build God’s Kingdom?
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your son to us to show us the way to You. He taught us how to be patient, kind, giving, caring, nurturing, loving, peaceful, forgiving, and present in the moment— not concerned with past or future issues because You have already dealt with them; he taught us how to heal ourselves and others through You. But we have strayed a great deal over the thousands of years since Jesus walked this earth.
We have devised more substitutions for You and for him that have left us even more confused and frustrated. We might as well be the children of Israel walking around in the forest waiting to prove ourselves again. Father, open our eyes, show us that the way You point is not a mirage.
Thank you for preparing us since our human conception for this journey. Free us from our self-inflicted pain and torment; free us from the shackles that we have placed on our own bodies. Free us from idol worship.
Humble us that we may be like the 72 followers Your son chose to demonstrate Your goodness, power, will, and grace. Humble us that we may be devoted stewards loving and honoring You with all of our heart, mind, body, and soul. In Your son Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Music: Climb by Shane Ivers; Quiescent In Time by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
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