Read Luke 10:1-17.
The
command (verse 3) is “Go!” The result (verse 17) is joy. Don’t miss that! Even if
there are obstacles along the way, the result is the same. Jesus sends us out
and we return filled with joy at what we experienced in our going. We can generate
all sorts of reasons why going is not a good idea, can’t we? But think of the
joy we miss because of our hesitation! These days we are being encouraged by
all sorts of governmental and medical sources to “stay.” But remember we can
still go – through the phone, email and other means of communication. Where
will you go today?
Jesus tells the seventy-two not to take anything with them when they go. I think our hesitation as modern readers is because we get hung up on the practicalities of that - thinking "what would we eat, where would we sleep, what if no one lets us in?"
ReplyDeleteI suspect Jesus is *not* saying not to prepare for the journey. He's just reminding us that we don't need "stuff" in order to spread the gospel.
What will bring people to faith through us is not what we have, or don't have, with us. We don't need pretty devotionals, or decorated cross pendants, or even a church building.
We just need to open ourselves to others, and share the God we know. He will take care of everything else.