God’s Mission
John 10:22-30
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
~ Jesus, John 10:27-28
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Pondering Point
Read John 10:22-30. Part of being Jesus- sheep relationship is not just having the ability to “hear his voice,” but actually developing this concept in our prayer life: learning to listen as well as speak to Him. His will (and His voice) are intent on keeping you safe and giving you life – in fact “abundant life” to quote Jesus in John 10:10.
What other voices have been getting your attention? Are they aligned with God’s will or conflicting with Him and His ways? Are these voices competing for your time and energies?
Try to determine the people and influences that you’re taking direction from. Which voices drive you – compel you? Could you say that God gets the best of who you are – time, energy and resources?
It is also good to ask yourself, “what has God already nudged me to do that I’m not following through on?” or “where have I drifted in following God’s ways, falling into disobedience unintentionally?”
Journal Prompt:
- What other voices have been getting your attention?
- Are they aligned with God’s will or conflicting with Him and His ways?
- Are these voices competing for your time and energies?
- Which voices drive you – compel you?
- Could you say that God gets the best of who you are – time, energy and resources?
- What has God already nudged me to do that I’m not following through on?
- Where have I drifted in following God’s ways, falling into disobedience unintentionally?
Prayer For The Day
Father God, identify for me who else I am taking direction from and show me how to dismiss these voices with the help of Your Holy Spirit. I pray that You let me learn to hear You strongly.* In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
*If you want pointers on learning to recognize God’s voice, contact your pastor to set up an appointment.
Luke 10:1-24
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
Luke 10:1-24
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”