What we can learn about serving God from Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

commentary in blue

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others Jesus sends regular folks out to serve; active service is not limited to the few. Cf Luke 9:1-6 and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, We work best when we work together w/ others. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 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. We should pray about, actively seek God’s help in, the work He gives us to do. See e.g. John 17 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. God expects us to take on tough, scary, projects Genesis 12:1-8; Exodus 3:1-4:17; Joshua 1:1-9; Judges 6 & 7; 1 Samuel 17; Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 4:4-10; Acts 9:10-19.    4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. We shouldn’t let our lack of resources stop us from starting, we should go forward trusting that God will get us what we need. 1 Samuel 17:38-40. 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. We should seek to bless all, regardless of whether they reciprocate/respond, or even seem likely to reciprocate/respond. Romans 5:8 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. You get what you get & you don’t get upset 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.’ You won’t have a 100% success rate, some will reject you. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.  We just have to keep pressing on. Philippians 3:13-15.

***

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.” It all up to God, the outcome is up to him. Proverbs 21:31;  1 Samuel 4:17; 

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, We experience great joy in the here & now when we serve God. We experience that joy even though we will not be 100% successful 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.” We are also rewarded in the afterlife.  Matthew 10:14-23;  1 Corinthians 3:10-14