Recruiters

Read Luke 9:51–10:42

1. The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
2. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
3. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
4. Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
5. Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’
6. If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.” Luke 10:1-6

A huge task confronts you, and you spring into action. You form committees. You buy supplies. You organize a phone-a-thon. Wait! Have you forgotten to pray?

When it came to accomplishing any task, prayer was at the top of Jesus’ list. In addition to setting this example, Jesus also taught how to divide the labor—long before the days of personnel assessment profiles, project-management software, and planning calendars.

As you read this passage, understand the priority of prayer and place it at the top of your to-do list.

Jesus sent out seventy-two of his disciples in pairs to spread the good news about him. Despite this good start, his mission was still understaffed. The first step he took in solving this problem was to instruct his followers to “Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Luke 10:2). They had a huge task, and getting it done meant asking God to send more people.

Likewise, we have a huge task today in furthering the spread of the gospel. No one person, however, can save the world single-handedly. You can’t be a missionary to Rwanda, live at home and minister to your family, and tell your coworkers about Christ all at once. But you can list the people and causes that matter to you and pray that God will send people to each one. You can also ask him to help you take advantage of the opportunities to share the gospel that come your way.

If you have friends and relatives who don’t know Christ, pray for them. Ask God to send believers into their lives who will address their concerns, objections, and needs—people who will lead them to the Savior.