Sunday, January 27, 2019

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven

Luke 10:1-24
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.
Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.
I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
Compare this with Jesus' instructions to the Twelve. The number 70 may perhaps symbolize the nations of the world.
They are sent out in pairs. Entrusted with God's good news, they are entitled to support from the people they go to. But they are not to look for luxury (the 'going from house to house',7, is with a view to better living). Time is too precious to waste on endless social formalities. There is work to be done, a message to be made known. And God himself will judge those who reject it. The 70 are overjoyed at their new power. But greater cause for joy is the certainty of eternal life.
Why?
Two by two to every town, much more places to go.
Harvest is plentiful, but the worker are few. Preaching gospel need people, but many like easy work, such as support money, but more needs are worker to go.
Blessing with peace to you is the best welcome message, for there is not peace on the world.
Missionary is messenger of the Jesus Christ, so rejects them rejects Jesus, reject Jesus is rejects the Lord.
Jesus has given us the authority to overcome all the power of the enemy. With name of Jesus has the power to trample on snakes and scorpions.
Do not rejoice to what we have done but for our names are written in heaven. Care the name on heaven instead of the work in the world.
How?
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are fewAsk the Lord of the harvest. Humble myself before the Lord, to be a good messenger.

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