Luke 10 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“When you enter any town and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near you.’ When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into the streets and say, ‘We are wiping off (as a witness) against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: The Kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day, it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.” Luke 10:8-12

Today’s passage is a message, tailor-fit for today.

First, it never ceases to amaze me how unaccommodating some “believers” are, when it comes to personal evangelism. When Yeshua sent out the “70”, He directed them not only to heal and to preach, but also to be socially gracious. In an age when the rules of kosher dominated the behavior of the average Jew, Yeshua instructed His “missionaries” eat whatever was set before them.

The point: It is possible to be so Heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good. Yeshua is not commanding His followers to break G_d’s law. He is righting particular traditional rabbinical interpretation of God’s law. Winning souls is of utmost importance to G_d. People are more important than man’s rules.

Second, it also amazes me how timid some congregations are. It is as if they are afraid to simply share the Gospel, for fear of offending people. Here is a rule: If nobody is rejecting your Gospel, you’re probably not sharing it. If you’re not sharing it, you might want to check, as to whether you ever received it.

In short: We can be so Worldly-minded that we are no Heavenly good. Do not allow people’s opinions to override G_d’s command. It is G_d, Whom we should be in fear of offending, not men.

Yeshua was telling the “70” that the message of the truth is to be proclaimed, whether it is welcomed or not. Why should people who are presently uninterested or unreceptive to the Gospel be evangelized? Because the message itself is powerful! Since it comes from G_d and is empowered by His Spirit, it may lead unbelievers to change their minds. Note that Yeshua’s disciples were not merely commanded to cease communing with those who rejected the Gospel, but they were also to condemn that rejection in a dramatic way.

Part of our effective witness includes our going the “extra distance” to clarify the Gospel with all to whom He sends us. We are commanded to make certain that people fully understand what they will (hopefully) accept, or (sadly) reject. Take courage and share!

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Assistant Rabbi
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, June 12, 2013