August 15, 2016

LABOR OF LOVE

Luke 10:1–16

Laura DeBow
Monday's Devo

August 15, 2016

Monday's Devo

August 15, 2016

Central Truth

The world needs less church people and more loving laborers for Christ.

Key Verse | Luke 10:2

And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2)

Luke 10:1–16

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two 1 10:1 Some manuscripts seventy; also verse 17 others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 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. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

16 The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Footnotes

[1] 10:1 Some manuscripts seventy; also verse 17

Dive Deeper | Luke 10:1–16

The good news of Jesus is astounding! That God, for our sake, would lower Himself to the status of a man and willingly subject Himself to many things we humans fear—pain and suffering, mockery and disrespect, death and separation from God—should make us weep with humility and joy. Why wouldn't we want to share that good news with everyone we meet?!

As believers, we're called to be laborers for Christ. Sadly, there are far too few of us obediently laboring, so we better make it count. Have you ever gone to buy something and the salesperson was just unpleasant? They were prideful, condescending, and generally not representing their company well? It seemed like they didn't like their job or believe in the product. I think sometimes Christians come across like that. The world looks at people who claim to know Jesus with their dour expressions, disapproving head-shaking, and self-righteous judgment, wondering why they'd want to "buy" what those Christians are "selling." I confess that, sometimes, I have been one of these prideful, judgmental believers, forgetting my own sin and failing to show God's goodness through my words and actions.

Colossians 4:6 instructs us to let our speech always be gracious and seasoned with salt so that we may know how to answer every person. This is much easier to do when I'm continually reminded that nothing I've done has earned me favor; it's only through Christ's death and resurrection that I am saved. Diving into God's Word daily and seeking His will through quiet time and prayer make it much more possible to live each day with a right perspective. When I'm seeking time with my Savior, I am more filled with humility, graciousness, and love. It's easier to remember that, because of what He's done out of love for me, I should in turn love others (see 1 John 4:19). So when I go through my day, interacting with both friends and strangers, I should be joyfully, fearlessly, and boldly sharing Jesus with everyone I encounter. May we all be such laborers for the Lord!

Discussion Questions

1. Can you say with integrity that you are laboring for the Lord's harvest? When is the last time you were faithful to plant or water some seeds of truth?

2. How are you representing Jesus? What kind of co-laborer are you (1 Corinthians 3)?

3. If you're not actively seeking to share the Lord with others, what is stopping you?