He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.’” vs. 2-3
Luke 10:1-7
Paul closes his letter to the Galatians by pointing to the cross of Jesus Christ and affirming that cross as the center of his life. Nothing else mattered–even the debate over circumcision was as nothing when compared to the centrality of Christ.
As his mission continued Jesus realized that his outreach could be multiplied if he had more sandals on the ground. The Twelve were effective but even more could be done if the number of missionaries was increased. So, he sent out 70 more disciples and gave them specific instructions on what it meant to be his presence in the little villages of Galilee. He included a warning with his commission–this would not be easy work. They would go out as lambs amid wolves. It’s still that way for those who hear and respond to Jesus’ call to discipleship. There are undoubtedly plenty of people and places who need to hear a word of peace and be exposed to the gospel of grace. This is a very broken world! And what surprises us is that there is an active resistance to the message of love and sacrifice. So many have drunk deeply of the cup of self-indulgence, and even if they don’t attack us like wolves, their ridicule is palpable and their ignorance pathetic. They worship other gods and want nothing to do with gentle Jesus. But still we persevere, and the work of Christ continues to be done, and millions hear our words of love and experience the sacrifices of our hearts.
Thought for the Day: How am I like a lamb?
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