December 26 Power Talk

Luke 10:8-9 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’”
 
HOW do you respond to someone who speaks with absolute authority? Surely, your response is based on your relationship with that person. If you do not know someone who says, “Do this precisely as I tell you.” it is likely you will need some proof that person knows exactly what you must do. If you know someone well and the person has proven his knowledge, you are more likely to follow his words exactly.
   Are you then willing to act exactly into Jesus’ words here? These are precise instructions, aren’t they? The three things he tells the 72 missionaries is 1) eat what is before you (Don’t let a meal, even in a non-Jewish house detract you from your work) 2) Heal the sick. 3) Proclaim the Kingdom of God is near.
   The first directive we can all do. But can we do the latter two? “Heal the sick.” is a faith instruction to proclaim to the short-term missionaries that they have been granted a great power. But did they know Jesus well enough to trust his “Do it this way.” talk? Do we?
   Were they also confident to say, “The kingdom of God is near you.” Were they aware the King of Kings had instructed them to such words? Were they understanding that Jesus meant the Kingdom power of eternal salvation was about to come fully onto the earth?
   When we look at the lessons from Jesus’ sending of the 72, we are continually confronted with two things: Be urgent and be of faith. Jesus’ instructions are filled with the theme of, “Do it now. Do it this way.” The 72 can fully trust him because he has been granted all authority from the Father to do the will of God on earth.
   I pray we are all urgent and faithful to know Jesus, so you will, “Do it now. Do it this way.”
 
Prayer: Holy God in Heaven, I pray I know you so well that I will act into the precise ways you teach me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.