Day 17 Mon March 8, 2010

Day 17 Monday March 8, 2010

TODAY’S INTRO
We are quickly approaching the half way point of Luke. We are now in the long extended “Journey’ or “Travel Narrative” of Luke which will feature some of his greatest teachings. (Chapters 9:51- 19)

TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 10
10 After this the Lord appointed seventya others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'b 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'c 12I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
Woes to Unrepentant Cities
13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. 16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
The Return of the Seventy
17 The seventyd returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Jesus Rejoices
21 At that same hour Jesuse rejoiced in the Holy Spiritf and said, "I thankg you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.h 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples, Jesusi said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.j "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii,k gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Jesus Visits Martha and Mary
38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself ? Tell her then to help me." 41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing.l Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."


TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
In Saturdays text, Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem. He is plowing forward with a group of followers- teaching them along the way. Just as they “jump on board” he tells them to get out and pair up because he has a mission in mind for them. One of the things I like in what you will read is that the harvest is seen as a precious commodity. It is valued. What that reminds me of is that the people in the world around us are precious and valuable in the eyes of God. We are called to the highest levels of patience and compassion and intentionality as we reach out to others. Reaching out is not an option. Two of the religious walk right by another in need. Did they not regard a man in the depths of despair as “precious”? Thankfully Jesus raises up a hero in the story as anyone who sees a need and says “I can do something to help AND I WILL.”

Switching topics on you, I’d like you to consider gas mileage. We have cars in our world that eat up a lot of gas and need “filling up all the time”. We have hybrids which may get 50+miles per gallon. Getting more mileage is a key value in producing new cars. But, not matter what the reality is the same- cars will need to be filled up as they approach the “E”. You and I, the people of God, are called to reach out and serve the world around us in our daily life. We do that whether we are businesspeople, scientists, teachers, administrators, parents, mechanics, pastors, or any other daily task. The key reminder at the end of today’s text is that we need to make sure we pause and get “filled up” for the service that lies ahead. Disciplines like regular worship and devotions and prayer are regular ways to get filled up, to rest, to renew, and to anticipate the future. Note how the “fueling” up in this text occurs in the midst of a small group. The support of other Christians is essential for us. Busy lives can drain our “spiritual gas tanks” quickly. That regular time to “re-fuel” is so important. I can personally tell you that walking through Luke with you is a great blessing in my life and I thank you for walking along and providing helpful feedback.
May you be charged up this day for the journey that lies ahead. The Lord will surround you with “precious people”. May you and I see them as such.

FRIENDS ADDED
70
Mary
Martha
Those who reach out and see others in this world as “precious”

CAUSES
Reaching out to those who come across the “dashboard of our life” esp. those who have tangible need

Expanding our definition of “neighbor”
Being agents of peace
Strengthening the devotional life of the followers of God—We need to “return to our sender” (recall earlier devotion this Lent on that theme)