March 15, 2012
Central Truth
Some people will reject Christ, but don't let that stop you. Keep witnessing!
"Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near." (Luke 10:11)
1 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. 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. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet 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 will rest upon him. But if not, it will 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.’ 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.
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.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 2 10:21 Or for so it pleased you well 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii 3 10:35 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus 4 10:38 Greek he entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. 5 10:42 Some manuscripts few things are necessary, or only one Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
As Jesus is sending the 70 disciples ahead of Him to the places He would later go, He starts by giving them instructions and warnings. The list looks something like this: there is a huge harvest (nonbelievers); there are few laborers (those to spread His Word); pray to the Father for Him to bring helpers; you are like lambs outnumbered by wolves; if you are accepted, hang out; if you are rejected, get out!
Not only were they to get out, but they were to shake off what clung to them, the dust, and actually give it back to the rejecters in protest.
This passage brought to mind an experience I had in a group gathering. Since many of us were together in one place, someone in the group presented a request for others to purchase something that would benefit a cause. With the purchase came a chance to win a prize with a high-dollar value. The cause was good, but the overall reaction to the request was in response to the possibility of the prize. Checks were written, and cash was given.
Upon witnessing the magnitude of positive response, I then took the opportunity to invite the group to an upcoming event that would offer food, spiritual nourishment, and fellowship. Response: blank stares and silence. No words of acceptance. The "dust" of their rejection stung my eyes and heart and blurred my vision. I had a choice either to take it to the car with me, allowing it to filter into my heart and potentially cloud my God-given desire to minister and encourage other women, or to reject it and leave it at that table.
The Lord helped me see that it was not me they were rejecting, but Him (Luke 10:16). That gave me courage and a desire to sit before the Lord and ask Him where my next "town" should be for the harvest. The knowledge of Christ's unconditional acceptance gave me courage to go back into the field to share the eternal prize, untouched by the dust of rejection!
1. Where are you harvesting by sharing the gospel, modeling authenticity, or helping others to become a faithfully devoted follower of Christ?
2. Have you prayed first about where the Lord would have you go out and harvest?
3. Are you received in that city, circle, peer group, or regular gathering? If so, how is the kingdom of God growing as a result of your presence there?
4. If you find more rejection than acceptance, would you pray about where He might have you move out so you can move in for ripe picking?
5. What rejection from the past needs to be brought before the Lord for Christ's healing power to enable you to be an unburdened witness for the growth of His kingdom?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
LUKE 7-11 (MARCH 12-16)
Read Luke 10:38-41.
• Who did Jesus visit?
• What was Mary doing?
• Why did Martha get upset?
• What was Jesus' response to Martha?
• When you have a lot to do, do you find it hard to sit and spend time with the Lord?
• How do you spend time with Him?
Activity: Talk about your week and all that you have planned and that you have to get done. Discuss ways that you can make spending time with the Lord a priority over all of the things you listed. Commit to spend time with the Lord each day before checking off your to-do list. Talk about what you learned in your time with the Lord on your way to school or over dinner. (Parents: be sure that you are setting the example and walking through with your kids what it looks like to make Jesus a priority in your day and what it looks like to spend time with Him.)