The Mission Of The Seventy-Two
After this, the Master appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them on as his Messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit.
“The harvest,” he said, “is abundant, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Owner of the harvest to send laborers to gather in his harvest. Now, go. Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse with you, or a bag, or sandals; and do not stop to greet any one on your journey. Whatever house you go to stay at, begin by praying for a blessing on it. Then, if any one there is deserving of a blessing, your blessing will rest upon him; but if not, it will come back upon yourselves. Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth his wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another. Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick there, and tell people ‘The Kingdom of God is close at hand.’ But, whatever town you go to visit, if the people do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say ‘We wipe off the very dust of your town which has clung to our feet; still, be assured that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.’ I tell you that the doom of Sodom will be more bearable on that Day than the doom of that town.”
The Return Of The Seventy-Two
When the seventy-two returned, they exclaimed joyfully: “Master, even the demons submit to us when we use your name.” And Jesus replied:
“I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens. Remember, I have given you the power to ‘trample upon serpents and scorpions,’ and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing shall ever harm you in any way. Yet do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been enrolled in Heaven.”
—Luke.
A pure heart in a pure home is always in whispering distance of Heaven.
“Choose you this day whom you will serve;—but as for me and my home, we will serve God.”
—Joshua.