Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 “Sent Out”
INTRODUCTION
Today is the 234th anniversary of signing of the Declaration of Independence the document that contains those immortal words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights. Among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” What a privilege it is to be able to live in a country where we can celebrate such wonderful personal freedoms. Our country becomes truly great, however, not when we are a nation of hundreds of millions of individuals seeking their personal rights, but rather when we are a nation—a community—of individuals helping each other experience these rights.
As Christians, we are in a unique position to help the people around us experience life, liberty and joy. We are, after all, disciples of Jesus Christ and witnesses to God’s steadfast love and abundant grace.
• Jesus said that he is the way the truth and the life. He also told his followers that he had come so that they could experience life and experience it abundantly.
• St. Paul asserts in his letter to Galatians that Christ has made us free, and he exhorts his readers to stand fast in their freedom.
• Christians emphasize joy rather than happiness (Joy comes from the inside, while happiness is often dependent on outward circumstances). The Psalmist proclaims that the joy of the Lord is his strength.
Our text today tells us how the early followers of Jesus accomplished their calling of ministering to the needs of other people and of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we read about their exploits, we learn what we can do to be witnesses to our faith and to help others experience life, liberty and joy in their lives through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
TAKE A RISK
Jesus sent seventy of his followers out into the countryside. When we read this, it is important for us to realize that traveling in Israel in the first in the first century AD was quite different from today. The very idea of being sent out involved risk. Highwaymen, robbers were common. The plight of the man helped by the Good Samaritan was frequently a real occurrence. So, travelers usually traveled in large groups. When Jesus sent them out two by two, he was asking them to take a risk. Traveling light by not taking any money, traveler’s bag or even extra sandals only added to the risk.
Taking a risk required faith—faith that God was with them, would protect them, and would some how use them. The followers of Jesus were called to express the faith that they confess in lives of action.
The first followers of Jesus were not the only one’s who Jesus called to take risks and to life in faith. Risk taking is required by us if we are to fulfilling our calling, also. Taking a risk is a step of faith as we move out of our comfort zone.
• We take a risk any time we allow our love of Jesus to be expressed beyond the walls of our place of worship. We take a step of faith trusting that Jesus will walk with us as we enter the community of Surprise and our world.
• We take a risk when we share our faith, not knowing how people will react and fearful that they might reject us or that we might offend them. Our faith trusts that somehow the Holy Spirit will use us and create faith within the people.
• We take a risk when we seek to help others. We might be used or taken advantage of. Our faith trusts that the Holy Spirit will work through our talents and abilities to touch the lives of others.
NEW EXPERIENCES
As the disciples traveled to the surrounding towns, Jesus told them that they should eat what was placed before them. In other words, those who Jesus sent out should experience the lives of others.
Faye and I were privileged to lead several travel groups to Europe, Scandinavia, The Holy Land and the Mediterranean. We quickly learned that there were two types of travelers. There were travelers who wanted to experience everything they could that was a part of the countries they were in. Others were constantly on the lookout for McDonalds and Burger Kings. Those who allowed themselves to be daring and to sample to food and culture of the places we visited and toured had a deeper, more meaningful experience than those who simply wanted to take the United States along with them wherever they went.
Being sent out involves experiencing the lives of others. We meet them on their turf and allow them to set the agenda. We seek to share the good news in a language the others can understand. In order to do this, we must first listen. It is necessary, also, for us to seek to understand their situation and their perspective on it. Only then can we engage them in a conversation, minister to their needs, and seek to help them make sense out of the life situations that they are experiencing.
Being sent out is not necessarily leaving pamphlets on people’s doors, or advertising in the local newspapers. Being sent out is establishing relationships and being willing to be used by the Holy Spirit as conduits of God’s love and grace.
CONCLUSION
Those who had been sent out returned to Jesus excited by what had happened. They had cast out demons, healed the sick and proclaimed that the kingdom of God was near. Using our talents, abilities and time in order to touch other people’s lives is exciting and fulfilling. If you don’t believe this, ask the VBS staff, or the missionaries that we sent to the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission, and any one else who is involved in ministry.
Jesus rejoices with those who returned to him. He affirms that what they did had eternal consequences in the lives of people. Jesus warns these followers, though, that they should keep watch that they do not become proud of what God is doing through their lives. Rather Jesus encourages them to remember that they have been forgiven and saved through the cross of Jesus Christ and rejoice in that true.
This Fourth of July we have much for which to be thankful. We do live in a nation where we are free. Also, as Christians, we have the life, liberty and joy that are ours through Jesus Christ. We also have the ability to help our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers experience these “rights” that they seek.
Amen
