Jesus sent out the 70 | Devotions by Chris Hendrix

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February 7, 2022 · 5:44 AM

Labor Shortage

You can’t go to any restaurant or business right now hardly without seeing signs that advertise they are hiring. When you try to buy your favorite items, many times they’re out of them temporarily because they can’t seem to get them due to supply chain issues. It turns out that the companies in the supply chain are experiencing labor shortages as well. The people who are working at these places are working as hard as they can to try to keep up with demand. They’re coming up with ingenious work arounds, but nothing can take the place of the people who are needed in those roles.

In Luke 9, Jesus called His twelve disciples together. He then commissioned them and sent them out to proclaim God’s Kingdom. They went out preaching, teaching and healing people throughout Israel. So much was going on because of their ministry that even King Herod heard about it. They returned a few months later and shared with Jesus all they had done. It wasn’t much later when in Luke 10, Jesus sent the twelve out again, but this time He added 60 more. They went out in pairs. When He commissioned this group with the same task, He didn’t just send them all over. He sent them to the towns He was about to visit.

Before He sent them out, In verse 2 He said, “The harvest is huge. But there are not enough harvesters to bring it in. As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to send out many more workers into his harvest fields” (TPT). That’s where you and I come in. We are laborers in His Kingdom. We have been given the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) to proclaim the Kingdom of God wherever we go before He comes. Too many Christians are sitting on the sidelines causing a labor shortage in Kingdom work. You are called, you are commissioned and you are needed to bring in the harvest. It’s time for all of us to get to work and to be about the Father’s business.

Photo by Paz Arando on Unsplash

Participating In The Process

Recently I was talking with my friend outside while the kids were playing. They decided they wanted to play basketball. They were taking turns shooting, but every time the youngest tried to shoot, she could barely get the ball over her heard. I lowered the goal to see if that would help, but it didn’t. She just wasn’t able to get the ball high enough to go through the hoop. The next time it was her turn, I picked her up and held her over the goal so she could easily make it. After realizing she couldn’t do it on her own, and that she could with help, she began to ask us to lift her up each time it was her shot. I couldn’t help but think that it was great picture of how God helps us accomplish the things He’s called us to.

When the disciples came to Jesus to tell Him the 5,000 people were hungry, He told them to give the people something to eat. Just like that little girl looking up at that basketball goal, they realized it was impossible for them. Jesus blessed the fish and loaves, but had the disciples distribute it and pick up the leftovers. They were still able to participate in the miracle with His help. He was always working to give them confidence to do the work of the ministry with His help and not on their own strength. When He sent out the 70 in Luke 10, He told them, “You won’t need to take anything with you—trust in God alone. And don’t get distracted from my purpose by anyone you might meet along the way” (TPT). He was reminding them that they get to participate in the miraculous with God and they wouldn’t need anything of their own to make it happen.

Before He sent them off, He also said, “The harvest is huge and ripe. But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in. As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to drive out into his harvest fields many more workers.” God is still looking for people who will participate in the work that needs to be done, but to do it in His strength and with His help. He calls us to things that are greater than ourselves so that we can rely on His strength and know that it’s not in our own abilities. We can keep trying to do things on our own, over and over again, but they will fall short. When we learn to ask Him for help, and present ourselves as available to participate, He comes in with His strength, lifts us up and allows us to complete the goal. Remember it’s in our weaknesses and inabilities that His strength is made perfect. When we do our part, He does His.

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

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