Luke 10:1-16
A ton of great food to chew on in this book, but especially this first section.
Starting with the 70 being sent….make sure you read it (see the bottom).
Where has God sent us? Or where has He tried to send us, but we’ve rejected His call because it was uncomfortable?
Or the instructions he gave to the disciples that he sent out. Go in my name; prepare the way; seek peace…but if it’s not found, Dust your feet off and don’t internalize the rejection that will come, but know they are a rejection of God the Father, not us.
When He sends us, we should First go In His Name. When we go somewhere, we must use the Name in which we were sent. Jesus sent me; He opened the door; He made this possible, and only He will get the Glory.
Secondly, go and Prepare The Way. Jesus is preparing to enter the place that He sent you. Is your walk in line with His ways? Are you living a life that is clearly different than the world? Are those connected to you seeing a difference? Are you demonstrating a different standard so that when Jesus comes, it will not be the first time they notice a life completely separate from the world?
Third, Seek Peace. Don’t enter a new place declaring all the wrongs; your life will demonstrate the difference, but seek peace and live peaceably with all men. Lk 10:5-6 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
Fourth, if they do not receive you, Dust Your Feet Off and Depart. Some will not pick up what you are putting down, and they will not receive anything not exactly like them or anything that draws attention to their shortcomings. There’s no need to battle; that’s not why we were sent. Dusting your feet off demonstrates the act of not carrying that place with you to the next place. Not focusing on their response but the task at hand. You are no longer responsible for the consequences that would happen to the town since they were rejecting He who was to come.
Lastly, Don’t Internalize the Rejection. When we’re sent in Jesus’ Name, we’re not speaking (walking, living, evangelizing) on our behalf, but we are representing Him. Therefore, their rejection is not on us; they are rejecting Jesus. They are not rejecting Jesus, the Son of God, because God sent him. They are rejecting God. (This was what helped me the most) Jesus knows who made us and how he gave us every aspect of our looks, personality, quirks, perspectives, likes, and dislikes. Everything about us was orchestrated, architected, and coordinated by God Himself. Therefore, when we are rejected, don’t internalize (try to figure out why, look for ways to change, act in a different manner, hoping they might change their mind) their rejection because they are rejecting God!!! So dust your feet off and leave it behind. Don’t take that rejection with you. Leave there as you came, In Jesus’ Name, full of Peace and His Love.
Just like Jesus sent out the 70, he sends us out as his disciples into places He plans to enter; prepare the way with you living, and Don’t despise any rejection that may come because there will be many that receive you and your Jesus who wants to change their lives.
Luke 10:1-16 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”