As the Messiah, Jesus Christ, turns on his mission to Jerusalem he prepares His way by sending 70 out in pairs before Him. In Luke 10:1-2, God’s agenda is revealed. God’s mission is always redemptive. He uses instruments to achieve His ends. And, the message is always the same, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of sin. At the core of ministry, we want to see the Lord record names in heaven (Luke 10:20), so we may rejoice!
There are four aspects revealed in this passage about God’s mission:
It occurs by proxy.
It is the highest honor for sinners to be made useful by the Lord to bring the gospel to the lost. We are His proxy.
Every regenerate believer who loves the Lord are merely delegated sinners.
We bring no resources to the equation.
It is a mission of mercy.
The message of the gospel reaches the lowest with great need.
In this passage, the 70 are sent to the cities where Jesus was going to come (Luke 10:1). In these cities are souls who Christ wants to save.
Job tells us that we do not know what God is up to (Job 9:10). His plans of salvation are not known to us, but He is always being merciful.
It is a mission with potency.
Notice, Jesus’ words in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful.” Stop right there!
God has tilled and cultivated the soil, we go and gather the harvest which is the fruit of God’s saving work; start to finish.
The seeds of the gospel hit fertile ground and God saves.
Faith and repentance never fails.
It is a mission with urgency.
The labors to receive the harvest are few.
We pray that God raises up more who are willing and able to share the gospel.
We pray they will be sent forth with the message of hope.
We work and strive to become mature Christians to disciple young converts.
We pray for strong believers to bring Light to the dark world.
We pray for new church plants and new under shepherds.
We pray for our children without ceasing.