Mission of the Seventy
Luke alone mentions that Jesus appointed seventy disciples, whom He sent on a missionary tour (Luke 10:1-23; see also Exod. 24:1, 9). In many ways, His instructions were similar to what He gave to the twelve. After instructing them, Jesus sent them two by two to the towns and places He was about to go. It appears that their mission was preparatory to Jesus' own. In a sense, they were to prepare the way for people to accept Jesus when He came. How does that fit in with what we are to do today in helping prepare people to meet Jesus?
What was the advantage of sending them two by two? What can we take from that for ourselves today?
Luke 10:17 says the seventy returned from their mission with joy because "the devils are subject unto us through thy name." No doubt, they must have been thrilled at the power given them through Jesus, and they acknowledge that it is His power. Jesus, though, while acknowledging the power given them, tells them to rejoice about the thing that really matters.
Read Luke 10:20. Why did Jesus say this? What message is there for us in these words, as well?
Doing great deeds in the name of Jesus is no guarantee of salvation (Matt. 7:22, 23), as some will one day find out. Spiritual position, church authority, even great success at winning souls, are not the things that really matter. What really matters is having our names written in heaven, names that are not blotted out (Rev. 3:5), because a name written in heaven means eternal life through Jesus.
We can be so busy working for others that we neglect our own spiritual life and health. How can you avoid falling into that subtle trap? At the same time, how does working for the salvation of others strengthen your own walk with Jesus?
No comments:
Post a Comment