Today daily devotional / The Seventy-Two

[ladylovesJesus]

The Seventy-Two

Scripture Reading — Luke 10:1-20

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him. . . .

— Luke 10:1

In my first job as a teenager, I picked raspberries at a farm in Washington State. I can’t say it was my favorite job ever, but it gave me something to do for the summer and provided me with some money to buy baseball cards at the local gas station. More than keeping me busy and giving me a bit of money, though, that job helped to give me a sense of purpose for the summer.

Jesus sent out 72 of his followers with a task and a purpose. They went ahead of him to the towns and villages he was about to go to as he brought the good news of the kingdom of God.

As these followers went out, they shared the good news about Jesus, and they were even able to heal people and cast out demons. From their reaction it seems they were also surprised that they could do these things in Jesus’ name.

But that’s what happens when Jesus gives us a job and sends us out with his blessing. Even if we don’t feel fully equipped to do what we are called to do, Jesus goes with us and blesses our efforts.

The Lord has a task and a purpose for us to carry out. We are his followers on this earth, sent out to share his message with the world.

Jesus, thank you for sending us into this world to share your good news with everyone we meet. Amen.

About the author — Bret Lamsma

Bret Lamsma is Director of Faith Formation at First Church in Denver, Colorado, and has served churches in Michigan and California in youth, emerging adult, inter-generational, and educational ministries. Bret and his wife, Julie, have two children, and he enjoys hiking, disc golfing, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.

 

[Johanabrahams]

I also picked fruit and vegetables. I specially remember the tomatoes. I was so "long" and they were so "high and low" and i really got a lot of exercise from them. But what was Really Life to me in picking them was the Joy of having found the Holy Spirit of Love on a farm. Because I used to live in the honor spirit as a Reverend in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Where even the "pastors" worshiped me as "Reverend" because of my superior Theological studies. And then at the age of 33 Daddy got me out of there by them asking me to please leave the position of Ministering to them. Because they are very unhappy with the Words I brought to them after their previous "Reverends". And then I could do nothing else except picking fruit with the laborers on a farm. But I entered the Holy Spirit of the Brotherhood in being Brother as Dad commanded me to do.

PSALM 133.​

A Song of degrees of David.​

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!*n1
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

And the difference between the "honor/worship" spirit and the Holy Spirit of the Brotherhood really kept me "flying high" as an Eagle.

Isaiah 40:
28 ¶Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

My body soon became accustomed to the physical work and then I really enjoyed being with My Brothers in working alongside them for the "bosses" we had to "honor" for "robbing" us. Because they acted "Christian" but took much more money for themselves than giving to their "Brothers" who were actually their slaves to enrich them in the joys mammon could buy for them.