Feb. 3, 2008<br> Background Scripture: Luke 10:1-12,17-20<br> Devotional Reading: Psalms 78:1-4<br> When I began as a pastor in the 1950s, the term “mission” was largely interpreted by Christians as participation in supporting missionaries in the United States and abroad.<br> In the decades since, I have noted increasingly that local congregations are coming to realize every church is and has a mission, and every Christian is called to be in mission. Mission and missions are not options, but a mandate, for all who choose to follow Christ.<br> In Mark 6:6-13, Matthew 10:1-15 and Luke 9:1-6 there are accounts of one or more missions given to the 12 disciples. But, in Luke 10:1-20, there is a recounting of a mission for 70 of Jesus’ disciples. Seventy was a symbolic number: the product of 7 (the “complete” number) times 10 (the number of commandments).<br> It was the number of elders chosen by Moses for leadership, as well as the number comprising the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Hebrews. At that time the known world consisted of 70 nations, and Jesus answered, when asked how many times one should forgive, “seventy times seven.” (Mt. 18:22).<br> So the call of mission is not limited to an inner circle. A church is more than a place to worship, hear sermons and learn about Christ. It is a mission station. And what Jesus told the 70 is still applicable today: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (10:2).<br> Kinds of mission<br> Don’t start writing your church a letter of resignation or packing your bags for Africa, China or Peru. There are many different kinds of missions and wide varieties of gifts required. No Christian fails to fit into some form of mission.<br> A religious film of the 1950s was entitled “Missionary to Walker’s Garage.” It may not even mean doing something different than you are currently doing – but don‘t count on it. It may mean that we need to see our discipleship from a different perspective: Reassessing our lives as witnesses for Christ.<br> Ushering in worship and being treasurer of your Sunday school class are important services, but it would be a stretch to rationalize them as being what Christ meant.<br> We don’t have to be gifted speakers or have the skills of a used-car salesperson. Much of the most powerful Christian witness that has impacted my life came from those who witnessed with their deeds, rather than their words. So far as I can remember, my parents never lectured me or even tried to explain the importance of helping other people. But, they impressed it upon me by the way they responded to other people.<br> How does your life – not necessarily your words – impress the members of your family, your friends and neighbors, your community and beyond?<br> Promises and warnings<br> Jesus promised a plentiful harvest. He also warned of the “wolves” who would stalk his “lambs” (10:3). The 70 were to travel light and focus solely on their task (10:4). Their message in word and deed was to be: “The kingdom of God has come near to you” and they were to demonstrate that message by healing the sick (10:9).<br> Whether or not people responded was not to be their concern. They were to concentrate on those who responded, not on those who rejected them (10:10-12). And if they were blessed with encouraging responses, they were not to get carried away with what they thought was their success (19, 20).<br> There was one other admonition that was implicit, but not explicit: On this mission, they would be totally dependent on the Father. He would see that they were housed, fed and provided people to see and hear the message. So, they were to put their trust in God and leave the results to Him.<br> That was sound advice for the 70 and their mission. It is also sound advice for us and ours. That’s the way we are to go for Christ. |