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Day 122

Luke 10 : 1-16 "THE HARVEST TRULY IS GREAT..." Luke 10:2"

Day 122 – Luke 10

Text: Luke 10 : 1-16

“THE HARVEST TRULY IS GREAT…” Luke 10:2

How do you see the vast sea of humanity? We are told that the population of the world now stands at 6 BILLION people! What grips our heart as we take note of the fact that the vast majority of the world’s population does not know the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?

If the Lord Jesus were on earth today, He would emphasise even more strongly, THE HARVEST TRULY IS GREAT, BUT THE LABOURERS ARE FEW” ! (Luke 10:2). The harvest has always been great, and the number of labourers has always been few! Can you guess why? Here are some very humbling and startling reasons!

1. We do not have the eyes of the Lord Jesus!

2. We do not have the heart of the Lord Jesus!

3. We do not have the compassion of the Lord Jesus!

4. We continue to be so self-centred in our outlook of life!

“THE LABOURERS ARE FEW…” Luke 10:2

After having taught so much, only “SEVENTY OTHERS” were sent forth as co-labourers of The Twelve (Luke 10:1). The number of Disciples of the Lord Jesus now stands at 82 people! That seems like a lot of people, but put that number against the backdrop of thousands of people, and the Lord Jesus would be proven right once again. “The Labourers are few”… then and now!

Nevertheless, the work of sending out the limited number of Labourers must be done. There must be no lowering of standards, no matter how keen the needs of the harvest! Discipleship must still be taught. Believers must still seek to follow the Lord Jesus as His Disciples first, before they are ready to be sent out as Labourers into the Harvest field!

Thus we read that it was the Lord who continued to do the work of “appointing” or “commissioning” the Disciples! The word “appointed” carries with it the Lord’s commissioning authority.

“THEREFORE PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST…” Luke 10:2

How should we respond to the fact that the harvest is indeed great, but the labourers few? Let tears flow freely by all means, but let there be much praying especially! The Lord Jesus taught His Disciples to cry out to “The Lord of the Harvest” – and by that Jesus meant His Father in Heaven!

An emotional response will not do! The work of the Lord must be clearly understood! It will demand much more than emotionally charged individuals to do the work of the Lord.

Our study of the Life and Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ would reveal that nothing less than a disciple adequately trained would suffice (Luke 6:40)! The fact that the Lord Jesus made no mass appeal for labourers, but instead urged prayerful concern must teach us how we should respond to the needs of the harvest field.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTION TO THE SEVENTY

The Lord Jesus had singled out 12 Disciples to especially be with Him (Luke 6:13). He sought to train them as Disciples (Luke 6-8) before He commissioned them as His Disciples (Luke 9:1-2).

Luke now intimates to us that the Lord Jesus had another on-going programme of training other Disciples. There was another batch of people who were also called Disciples, and they too were now especially commissioned to serve as His Disciples (Luke 10:1-2).

1. Similar Instructions (For a Brief Ministry)

“Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.” Luke 9:3
“Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals…” Luke 10:4

Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.” Luke 9:4
But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house…” Luke 10:5

2. New Elements

“I send you out as lambs among wolves…” Luke 10:3

It was right that the Lord Jesus warned His Disciples of possible hostility. The signs of hostility against Him personally had already become more and more obvious. He had already begun to teach His Disciples that He Himself would one day suffer terribly in the hands of His enemies (Luke 9:22).

The new set of Disciples must not think that being sent out into the Harvest Field was going to be a picnic. The work may indeed be exciting and exhilarating, but the bottom line is still the same – there were wolves out there! They must be mentally prepared for the many demands of the harvest field!

“Greet no one along the road…” Luke 10:4

This piece of advice must be carefully understood. The Lord’s word to The Seventy was that they were being sent forth as His Disciples on an urgent errand. There would be times for social interaction. There would also be times when the work is so urgent, that they must not lose valuable time by making small talk when they come across acquaintances, friends or relatives alike.

It was customary in those days when friends and relatives meet each other to exchange pleasantries. Those “pleasantries” can eat up valuable time, and can even cause the Disciples to become distracted from the task they were sent forth to perform.

The Disciples must learn what it means to be totally focused. They were on a royal errand! They had a great message to proclaim. They were the heralds of the Lord Jesus Christ – no less!

COULD THE LORD USE YOU AS HIS LABOURER?

The harvest field continues to be great, and the labourers still few! Can you see yourself as a potential labourer of the Lord? Have you become a Disciple of the Lord yet?