“Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62
I find it interesting, right after Jesus lays out the COST of commitment to following Him, he sends 72 men out to get the harvest.
These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Luke 10:2
There is no secret agenda… Count the cost, get to work, and go get the harvest.
In 10:2 it says the workers are few.. why are the harvesters few? Back in chapter 9 He calls out a demanding allegiance. Following Jesus costs everything…even our deepest, closest relationship. We aren’t fit for the Kingdom if we look back on what we’re leaving. We are useless to his Kingdom. (Luke 14:33-35)
Before Jesus sends them out in chapter 10, he is confronting, I think a common excuse for all of us- family, our close relationships. Jesus calls out even our last-ditch effort of excuses.
Then those 72 who counted the cost and were sent… it says Jesus sent them AHEAD, to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
The word AHEAD stands out to me. Before Jesus visits the towns and places, he sends his disciples ahead of him to heal the sick and announce the Kingdom of God is near. It seems easy to skim that portion as we read it, BUT I actually think this took great faith! Faith to believe Jesus is going to show up!
They obey and come back in joyful rejoicing as they discovered they have access to His full authority!
“…remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.” (10:3) There’s a warning for them, Jesus doesn’t send them out blind. BUT among the wolves, in their obedience, they find a JOY. They have been given the authority to overcome all the power of the enemy. (10:19)
Many of us in this season have been praying and longing to overcome the enemy… and I’m wondering if maybe it’s our GOING in FAITH “AHEAD” that we might find, it’s through the “few workers” who are the answer. His power demonstrated, his authority to overcome the enemy is in our counting the cost and GOING.
The Harvest is plentiful.
What is our response, is it yes? We will be one of the workers to go?
I don’t write these words lightly, typing these words actually feels heavy… yet they hold freedom. Because true life is found when we lose it all for HIM- his glory, his kingdom.
“Whoever finds his life lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matt 10:3