ESOCS Devotional 6 April 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” Luke 10:1
TEXT: LUKE 10:1–6
Now after this the Lord chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit).
2 And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [[a]there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3 Go your way; behold, I send you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.
4 Carry no purse, no provisions bag, no [change of] sandals; refrain from [retarding your journey by] saluting and wishing anyone well along the way.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this household! [[b]Freedom from all the distresses that result from sin be with this family].
6 And if anyone [worthy] of peace and blessedness is there, the peace and blessedness you wish shall come upon him; but if not, it shall come back to you.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In this text, Jesus sent out His disciples on an evangelical mission and tells them what to do and expect in the mission field. The details should be very important to all who are serving or seek to serve the Lord in the work of soul winning. He makes it plain that the mission field is not a bed of roses. It is a dangerous one that requires urgency and full concentration. To get the job done requires that you avoid every form of distraction. There will be needs and you will not always be welcome. But He assures His children of divine providence. God will supply all your needs.
The evangelist is to go to all people with a message of peace. He is to heal the sick and preach to them the gospel of the kingdom of God. In places where they are not welcome, they are not to tarry, yet they should preach the gospel message to them (v 8 – 11). In this, Christ shows His children the primacy of the gospel message as it applies to us, in all we do in the work of the ministry – prayers, healing, deliverances, preaching etc. It is primary that the message of the gospel be preached. This is because in the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. In it is the power to bring the required transformation in the life of man through the new life that is in Christ Jesus. Souls will not be transformed and the ministry work will fail without the gospel.
- Have you ever wondered why many people stay in church as members for years and their lives do not reflect the nature of God? Why do you think this is so?
- Can you explain the gospel?
- Lord, we thank you for your love and plan of salvation for man. Give us the grace to preach the gospel message and to win souls into your kingdom. We receive the power to heal the sick. May we glorify you in the mission field. Amen
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Isaiah 52:7-12; John 15:1-9; Hebrews 2:5-end
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ESOCS Devotional 6 April 2023
