What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
With seventy-two years logged in on earth, God has taught me many lessons through a rich heritage of faith displayed by others in my growing up years. Even in their imperfections, they taught me perfect forgiveness that is ours through repentance to Jesus. But the next important lesson from God was this; God calls, equips and then sends people out into the world to tell His story of salvation through His Son, Jesus—in that order. He does not seem call those already equipped (because they might do the work without His leading) but I have watched him equip His called who have willing, humbled, obedient hearts ready to do what He says.
I have had many opportunities to see how God works. God gave me several great examples in my life probably because I am a slow learner! He put people all around me to show me what God can do through a life dedicated and committed completely to Him. I was privileged to observe God work through my parents, grandparents, youth leaders, uncles, teachers, and a few pastors who were led by God leading them. These believers were the “on your knees” kind of people who consistently asked God for direction knowing they did not have all the answers. I thank God for all these people in my life who lived the faith out loud for me to hear and see so I could learn to imitate Jesus in them.
Jesus called (selected) seventy. By God’s leading, Jesus equips the seventy with specific directions with warnings of what might happen with how to deal with certain circumstances along the way! Jesus even trains them in a few “social graces” they are to have hospitality is provided to them! I love it!
Then the Seventy are sent! Read what happens next…
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Luke 10, The Message
Lambs in a Wolf Pack
10 1-2 Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge:
“What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.
3 “On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You’re like lambs in a wolf pack.
4 “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.
“Don’t loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way.
5-6 “When you enter a home, greet the family, ‘Peace.’ If your greeting is received, then it’s a good place to stay. But if it’s not received, take it back and get out. Don’t impose yourself.
7 “Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don’t move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town.
8-9 “When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!’
10-12 “When you enter a town and are not received, go out in the street and say, ‘The only thing we got from you is the dirt on our feet, and we’re giving it back. Did you have any idea that God’s kingdom was right on your doorstep?’ Sodom will have it better on Judgment Day than the town that rejects you.
13-14 “Doom, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had been given half the chances given you, they’d have been on their knees long ago, repenting and crying for mercy. Tyre and Sidon will have it easy on Judgment Day compared to you.
15 “And you, Capernaum! Do you think you’re about to be promoted to heaven? Think again. You’re on a fast track to hell.
16 “The one who listens to you, listens to me. The one who rejects you, rejects me. And rejecting me is the same as rejecting God, who sent me.”
17 The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune!”
18-20 Jesus said, “I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I’ve given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”
21 At that, Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit. “I thank you, Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
22 “I’ve been given it all by my Father! Only the Father knows who the Son is and only the Son knows who the Father is. The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to.”
23-24 He then turned in a private aside to his disciples. “Fortunate the eyes that see what you’re seeing! There are plenty of prophets and kings who would have given their right arm to see what you are seeing but never got so much as a glimpse, to hear what you are hearing but never got so much as a whisper.”
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
God calls, equips, and then sends us to tell the story of redemption through Jesus.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[d] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, NLT
The message is simple: “Come back to God, Jesus made the way!” God equips us with His authority to show and tell that Jesus is the Way back to God. Jesus embodies the Truth of God. All who believe Truth are assured Life eternal through Jesus!
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Jesus saves us from our sins. The saved point the Way to Jesus!
The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune!” Victory is ours all because of Jesus!
When Jesus calls—simply obey.
As Jesus equips—listen and trust what He is saying and doing in us.
When He sends—Go!
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Lord,
Thank you for all the people who lived before me who did helped me know you more while pointing the Way to you as the perfect example to follow. I am so grateful for all those who showed your love in them to me without conditions. Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for changing my heart and transforming my mind. Thank you for daily refreshing my soul with your new mercies fresh each morning from your word. Thank you for teaching me and leading me on level ground. I’m yours. I believe.
In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
“Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 