The Lord Sends us out for the Harvest

Article for July 6, 2025

Luke 10:1–2 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

We would like to grow or maybe we would like to see our numbers grow.  This is on my mind constantly every day.  I sometimes put too much emphasis on growing our numbers.  Other times I put a lot of emphasis on growing us in the word of God. 

I wonder a lot what am I doing wrong, is my heart in the right place, or why God have you made me a pastor, surely there are many more suitable to this task than I.  Why God can I not accomplish growth in our numbers?  I do see that you Lord are growing us in our knowledge and faith.

Are we not part of the seventy-two that Jesus sent out; figuratively speaking.  Where are the zealous ones where is our evangelism, where are those who work for the Lord. The harvest continues to grow and the laborers are getting fewer and fewer.  Yes, many of us are getting to that point that we cannot go out and knock on doors, rally the troops, and sing God’s praises.  Well, if we put it this way maybe we are not too old to evangelize.

Luke 10:3–7 3Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

The wolves are out there, and our world has and is growing away from God.  But the wolves cannot stop us from putting our Lord’s mission first.  Jesus came to save the sinners not the righteous.  We are sinners and therefore we are being saved every day by the grace and mercy won for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is hard to go from door to door, and it is hard to get a foot in a non-believer’s house.  Certainly, there must be a way without looking like a church desperate for new members.  The first thing that should not be said is we want you to join our church.  And this too should not be the last thing we say.  Proper evangelism is not putting the churches needs first but putting one we are visiting first by putting Jesus and His gospel first.

Jesus sent out seventy-two, which would be more than the numbers in our congregation.  So, does that mean we should give up?  A zealous believer may be better than seventy-two from our church going out and not having their heart in what they are doing.  It has been said that one should not talk to another about politics and religion.  Let us remember we are not a religion, rather we are disciples of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Seems interesting that Jesus would tell the seventy-two not to go from house to house.  I think that means one who goes door to door is not spending enough time to be a friend to the one whom they are visiting.  In other words, spending ample time with the one you are visiting says you are building a relationship and possibly caring for the needs of the household.

This shows those whom you visit that you care more about them than you do about the numbers in our congregation. This is a good thing. This action of building friendships are words that say we have a church who cares about the wellbeing of our neighbors.

This action of building friendship and putting those whom you visit before the needs of the church is like when Jesus says, if you try to save your life you will lose it, but as you try and lose your life you will save it.  By making the goals of the church our priority we will lose the ability to show what kind of church we are.  Caring, I hope.  But if we put the needs of others first, they will see that we put the gospel into action and the words of Jesus to love our neighbor.

Luke 10:8–11 8Whenever you enter a town, and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

Friendship and family with the show of love earns growth within us and that it shows in our words and in our body language.  Peace be with your family should be one of those things you say at the beginning and when you leave.  The means of healing are within friendship, love, and prayer.   The time to invite is not always needed and could be disrupting and unravel the visit.  But your friendship will plant a seed for God to grow. 

Luke 10:16 16“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

There will be a time to walk away, dust off your feet from the dirt of those who do not accept you.  But do not curse those who reject you rather pray God will send them another evangelist.  God is the one who is in charge, God will grow the seed planted, and God through the Holy Spirit will bring many to faith in Jesus Christ.  Sometimes it takes thirty or more evangelists to bring one into the fold of Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:20 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

As Jesus told the seventy-two who returned bolstering about all the amazing things they did, He tells us as well.  We are not to feel more special than others who were not sent out.  What happens when we evangelize is not for us to boast of ourselves but boast all the more in God and all that He is doing.  Remember, God can work and has worked His will in even those who would not seem worthy.  I guess that includes me.  God, please use me every day and beyond.

Isaiah 66:14 14You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.”

What Isaiah is writing here is that Jesus Christ did all this on the cross and in His resurrection.  We will flourish like grass in the name of our Lord.  That reminds me I need to mow my grass that never stops growing.  And from the cross to the grave and through Christs descending, Jesus conquered all that was and is sinful, wicked, and even the evil one.  Jesus rises triumphant as He is resurrected for our knowledge and our testament to everlasting and eternal life. 

Amen.