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Jesus told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2
There is a lot of talk around immigration nowadays, some of which leads to the question of laborers. Who will do the work without them? Where I grew up in Minnesota, we had migrants who came through to weed the fields or work in the factories during the busy summer season. These jobs were labor often intensive and not well paid. Many have since been replaced by chemicals and machines, but there is still a great need for this type of work.
In our lesson this Sunday, Jesus sends out seventy-two of his followers out ahead of him to work in the fields, to prepare the way for Him to come into the communities He would visit, to share the Gospel, and help bring in the harvest of souls for eternity.
What do you think about that? Would you be excited about it going out to tell others about Jesus? Or would you say, “No, thank you! Can’t someone else do it? ”Or my favorite, “Isn’t that what we pay the pastor to do?” Or, maybe you’d say that’s what we did that last week with VBS!
Jesus gives the church a job description in this passage. He doesn’t pull any punches. Some of the words are hard to hear, filled with judgment, others, with joy. Jesus outlines this journey, one with welcome or rejection, peace, power, and a promise. It is a foreshadow of what He is calling us to do today. It is who and what we are to be as the Church.
As Christians, we are all called and sent to proclaim the Good News of the one true God. Sharing this message should be a joyous task, though it is not without hardship. Jesus tells us that nothing will harm us, but He was speaking spiritually more than physically. According to Open Doors, 380 million people today face persecution and discrimination because of their Christian faith. 4,476 people were killed for faith related reasons just last year. This is serious business!
Is it dangerous to work in the harvest? Yes, but it’s even more dangerous for our souls if we do nothing. This passage reminds us that God is the Lord of the harvest. God is more powerful than the enemy. He gives us the authority and power to go out in His name so others may find new life and freedom in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we celebrate our freedoms this weekend, let’s remember the sacrifice others have given to help give us freedom. Wait a minute, I’m not talking about our freedom as a nation, the USA. I’m talking about something even bigger, something even more important – the freedom won by Jesus to give us victory over sin and death! Remember, God sent someone into your life to set you free – perhaps it was a parent, teacher, pastor, friend, or neighbor. Someone helped lead you to the harvest, to Jesus, so your name would be written in the book of life!
Let’s remember that freedom – the true freedom that comes through faith in Jesus Christ this weekend. Have a happy and blessed fourth of July!
In Christ;
Pastor Dan
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
· Remember to wear red, white, and blue this Sunday for the Independence holiday.
· Help feed a friend with our food drive this summer! This mission project will continue through August. Dry goods are being collected at the back of the church and given to the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
· Thank you to our “Pop Up” choir for helping in worship this Sunday.
· This Sunday we are welcoming the Grace Notes Music Foundation Summer String Music Camp as they perform some of the music they have been learning the past two weeks. You are also invited to come to their free public concert here on July 19th at 6:00 p.m.
· Our chapel roofing project began last week and should be winding down now. This is the final stage in our roofing project. Alleluia!
· Do you know someone looking for a church home? Join us! Talk to one of the pastors or call or email the church office.
