Luke 10:1-9

Daily Reading & Meditation
Saturday (10/18): "The harvest is plentiful... Pray the Lord to send out laborers into his harvest"
Scripture: Luke 10:1-9 (alternate reading: Luke 12:8-12)

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. 2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Meditation: Are you ready to serve in the Lord's harvest for today? Jesus instructed his followers to pray for laborers for his harvest – for the gathering in of men, women, and children to Jesus' gracious invitation to become disciples and citizens of his kingdom. Luke the Evangelist dedicated his life to telling others of the good news of Jesus Christ. Luke's account in his Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles emphasizes the mission of Jesus to bring the good news of the kingdom of God to every corner of the world. When Jesus commissioned seventy of his disciples to go on mission, he gave them a vision of a great harvest for the kingdom of God. Jesus frequently used the image of a harvest to convey the coming of God’s reign on earth. The harvest is the result or fruition of patient labor and growth – beginning with the sowing of seeds, then tender care during the process of growth, and finally the harvesting of fruit that has matured. In like manner, the word of God is sown in the hearts of receptive men and women who are ready to believe the gospel, accept the invitation to follow the Lord Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to transfom them into the image and likeness of Christ himself. The harvest Jesus had in mind was not only for the people of Israel, but for all the peoples and nations of the world. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be lambs in the midst of wolves? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those who oppose the gospel. Jesus came as the true "sacrificial lamb" who atones for the sin of the whole world. We, as disciples of Jesus, the Lamb of God, must also be willing to sacrifice our lives in humble service of our Lord and Master.

What is the significance of Jesus appointing seventy disciples to the ministry of the word? Seventy was a significant number in biblical times. Moses chose seventy elders to help him in the task of leading the people through the wilderness. The Jewish Sanhedrin, the governing council for the nation of Israel, was composed of seventy members. In Jesus’ times seventy was held to be the number of nations throughout the world. Jesus commissioned the seventy to a two-fold task: to speak in his name and to act with his power. Jesus gave them instructions in how they were to carry out their ministry. They must go and serve with sincerity, love, peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other less important things.They must travel light – only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them – in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting special favor or reward.

“Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision for us. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves. God gives us his Word and his Spirit that we may have life in him – abundant, grace-filled life which never ends. He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory. God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and simply to others. Do you believe in the transforming power of God's word? And are you ready to witness the joy and truth of the gospel to others?

“Lord Jesus, may the joy and truth of the gospel transform my life that I may witness it through word and example to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and your light wherever I go.”

Psalm 145:10-13,17-18

10 All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy sainst shall bless thee!
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power,
12 to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.



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