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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.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’ The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20)
The work is right here, right now. We don't have to go far to find someone who has yet to hear or accept the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus demonstrates this in this passage when He sends out a group of 70 to towns and places where He Himself intended to go. These advance people went to do the work of the harvest, and Jesus said they were not going alone, for the Lord of the harvest sends and accompanies those who go out and do the work. Jesus' explanation was simple; the work is crucial and there will be those open to it, and those who won't; find the ones who are and stay with them. Share with them the word that the kingdom of God had come to them, then cure the sick and share the good news. And regardless of the work still to be done, those doing it will have their names written in the book of life.
God is with us, and God has and will give us that which we need to say and do, to win more lost souls for His glory. The work starts now.
PRAYER: Loving God, I know there is much to do, but I want to be in that number of those who work for You. Equip me, train me, and deploy me. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
