God’s Provision for Mission
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.
How does God prepare us for mission? What are the challenges to the mission of God? What are the provisions of God to do the work God has called us to do?
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two on mission to prepare the way for his visitation, he warned them of the difficulties ahead of them. Jesus said, “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” (Luke 10:3, ESV).
Jesus wanted his followers to trust his provision for them and to count on the provision and hospitality of others. He requested that they “Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.“ (Luke 10:4, ESV).
Jesus requested that his followers be instruments of God’s peace and to extend God’s peace to every home they entered. He instructed them, saying, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.” (Luke 10:5-6, ESV).
Jesus instructed the seventy-two to be present and to focus on the people they shared the good news with. He encouraged them to receive their hospitality and provision. He asked his followers to “remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages.” He encouraged them, saying, “Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.” (Luke 10:7-8, ESV).
Jesus requested those on mission to pray for the town they were entering into and “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10:9, ESV). Jesus wanted to be sure those who received God’s healing understood they were experiencing the closeness of God’s kingdom.
Jesus assured his followers that they would be rejected by some people. Jesus instructed those being sent how they should handle rejection, saying, “But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’” (Luke 10:10-11, ESV).
Jesus was teaching the people that in rejecting his disciples and their message, they were rejecting Jesus and his present kingdom. Jesus warned of those who rejected him, saying, “I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:12, ESV).
As we are sent out as laborers into God’s mission field, it is important that we understand: there will be difficulties and risks, that God will provide, that we are to be instruments of God’s peace, that we will receive hospitality and provision as we remain with those who receive us, that we are to be instruments of God’s healing, as representatives of God’s present kingdom, and that there will be rejection when doing God’s work.
May we experience God’s provision and God’s present kingdom in doing the mission of God.
A Collect for the Third Sunday after Trinity (Proper 9): “Grant us, O Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who can do no good thing apart from you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Begin the month with a #dailydevotional. I have created a #devotional book for each month, a devotional for every day of the year, and offering them for #free by subscribing. Get a link to #Grow365: #July2022—A #Daily Devotional here: robbiepruitt.com.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.
