Thursday, July 3, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Luke 10:1–11, 16–20

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two 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 laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way; 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 a person of peace is there, 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 laborer 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-two 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. Indeed, 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.” (NRSVUE)

Reflection

These verses from Luke present what may be the richest passage of scripture I’ve been invited to write about with their multiple entry points and layers of understanding for consideration: “What might it have felt like to be one of the 72?” “Who travels assuming that complete strangers are going to shelter and feed them?” “What does it mean that their ‘peace’ will rest on ‘a person of peace?’ Conversely, “What exactly am I doing if I am moved to literally wipe the dust of an unaccepting town off my feet?” And perhaps the biggest question, “What kind of assignment am I accepting if I’m being sent ‘out like lambs into the midst of wolves?’”

Any one of these questions would be a non-starter for many, yet we are told that all 72 not only returned but returned with “with joy” — only to find themselves rebuked by Jesus for rejoicing in the wrong aspect of their work and witness. No fist bumps. No high fives.

In these scriptures, we are reminded that our motives and the positioning of our hearts have always mattered in the lives, work, and witness of Christians. In these scriptures, we are reminded that we are sent out as poor laborers to reap the Lord’s harvest and that being obedient, indeed, even being successful in this call, provides no bragging rights for our efforts whatsoever.

From the church’s very beginning, the mixed motivations of some who have endeavored to spread the gospel have diluted its credibility as humankind’s roadmap back to a right relationship with our Creator and with each other. And at this period in human history, it is imperative that our Christian witness be undergirded by an honest and selfless commitment to the gospel for the sake of Christ alone and certainly not offered for the praise of others or because of our own misplaced pride or self-satisfaction.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for inviting us to serve and thank you for reminding us of the selfless and committed spirit in which that service is to be offered. Deepen our faith to help us fully align our obedience with your will for our lives. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.  

Written by John Marr, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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