July 17, 2017
In 1959, Billy Graham visited Australia for four months. In that time it is estimated that 2% of the population made a commitment to Christ.An entrepreneur in Kenya spends their free time providing food and discipling orphans in Kibera slum.A woman in California with only a second-grade education has started discipleship groups that are now reaching hundreds in her community.If we’re honest, stories like these produce a mix of emotions. Even as we’re inspired, there’s often a subtle whisper: “I could never do that.”Do you ever feel that way? That stories of amazing transformation must come from uniquely gifted people who have figured out just the right methods to share Christ?The enemy works hard to tempt them to think, “I can’t really help others follow Jesus. Someone else, someone better, should do that.”But freedom, boldness, and multiplication are exactly what God desires.In Luke 10, Jesus appoints 72 followers and sends them ahead into every place He plans to go. As He prepares them, He provides two powerful principles we can use to defeat our fears and embolden us to be fruitful for His expanding Kingdom.God isn’t asking you to change people. In verse 2, He says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” The Father, the Lord of the harvest, promises that the harvest is already plentiful. What freedom when we recognize that it does not depend on us!God is already preparing people for you to reach. Verses 5-11 describe how Jesus commanded the disciples to decide where to spend their time. In essence, He said, “Look for a person of peace, and share the Good News with those who receive you.” God is not asking us to argue, badger, or cajole people into the Kingdom. He is already preparing hearts to receive us.May we never be weighed down by the lie that we are responsible to change the hearts of others. May we release the burden of having to “sell” Jesus in just the right way to see lives change. As children of God, we are free to trust the Lord of the harvest and boldly seek those He has prepared, confident that this is how God builds His Kingdom—through ordinary, available people.