IAMSON, with Jessica Fox and Paul Zach sings, ‘Lead Me, Guide Me.’

I am weak, and I need your strength and power

To help me o’er my weakest hour;

Help me through the darkness Thy face to see,

Lead me, O Lord, lead me.

Lead me, guide me along the way;

Lord, if You lead me, I will not stray;

Lord, let me walk each day with Thee.

Lead me, O Lord, lead me.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 10:1-9

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Have you ever travelled a long distance with another person whom you didn’t necessarily know well? What did you talk about? You might have covered a lot of ground - in your conversation as well as in miles.

Jesus gives very specific instructions to these pairs. What do you particularly notice about what he says?

Imagine you were given this job to do. Imagine who might be your travelling companion.

Listen to the passage again. Notice how you react to each of Jesus’ instructions.

Luke 10:1-9

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Perhaps you’re already in this kind of work. Perhaps you’re exploring the possibility that you might be. Or you’re supporting someone who is.

What do you need? Ask God for help, for the grace to represent Him well... For the grace to represent Him well.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen