Appointed to Jesus’ Team
Scripture Reading — Luke 10:1-12
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
The seventy-two followers were about to make history by working together for Jesus. Out of so many people the Lord could have picked, he settled on these followers to do the work of spreading the gospel. Luke doesn’t tell us how these people were chosen. But what is important is that they represented the gospel witness of the Master.
Imagine Jesus standing in front of the seventy-two pairs of partners. There must have been excitement and eagerness as they prepared for their journey. They had a world to change, and Jesus was going to send them out. The Master of the universe had given them a mission to go into the villages and towns with a message of healing and repentance.
Jesus told his team to display signs of his kingdom. They were to heal the sick. They would heal people afflicted in mind, body, and soul because God had heard their cries for help. They would show up two by two and administer the power of God that lifts up hope for the hopeless.
Followers of Jesus are never meant to do ministry alone. We are not superheroes; we are broken vessels of grace who point people to the fountain of mercy in Jesus alone. We’re called to walk side by side to minister to the bruised and battered wherever we are.
Jesus, lead us to follow wherever you want us to go and represent you in this world. Thank you for always being with us. In your name, Amen.
About the author — Reginald Smith
Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!