Let us skip to Luke 9 and 10. This thread started on September 25 and I want to get to the point before we get lost in the details. In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus laid out his mission for his time on earth. In the next several chapters, as we have seen, Jesus goes about fulfilling his mission. He teaches, he heals the sick, he sets the oppressed free, he brings good news to the poor. We could continue through chapters 7 and 8 to demonstrate the day-to-day life that Jesus lived with his small group of apostles and his larger group of disciples. Jesus set the example of the Christian life day in and day out.
Now to Luke 9:1-6. Here Jesus sends out the 12 apostles to go and do the very things he has been doing. They are to go out and follow his example. And so they did. They "went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere" (Luke 9:6). In Luke 10:1-16, he sends out 72 disciples with the same basic instructions as he gave to the 12. Later the 72 return joyous and amazed that even the demons obey them (Luke 10:17).
We could carry this theme from Luke into Acts of the Apostles showing that, after faltering at the crucifixion, the disciples pick themselves up, with the tremendous help of the Holy Spirit, and continue the mission. They spread the good news of the coming of the kingdom of God, preaching to all, healing the sick and bringing them into discipleship.
In other words, this is what the normal Christian life is about - telling people about Jesus, the kingdom of God, healing the sick, setting the captives free and making disciples. Not all are sent to go far and wide away from home and family, but all are sent to spread the word in their everyday encounters, in their normal sphere of influence.
For Reflection: Have I been living the normal Christian life? When was the last time I spoke with anyone about Jesus? When did I last interact with either the poor in life or the poor in spirit?
Let us pray. Well, Jesus, some days my Christian life doesn't look so normal. So I commit myself anew to being your disciple and acting like one. Help me to see opportunities to talk about you and the kingdom with my family and others, people I know and people I don't know, and to act on those opportunities. I want to be your disciple and live the normal Christian life.
Now to Luke 9:1-6. Here Jesus sends out the 12 apostles to go and do the very things he has been doing. They are to go out and follow his example. And so they did. They "went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere" (Luke 9:6). In Luke 10:1-16, he sends out 72 disciples with the same basic instructions as he gave to the 12. Later the 72 return joyous and amazed that even the demons obey them (Luke 10:17).
We could carry this theme from Luke into Acts of the Apostles showing that, after faltering at the crucifixion, the disciples pick themselves up, with the tremendous help of the Holy Spirit, and continue the mission. They spread the good news of the coming of the kingdom of God, preaching to all, healing the sick and bringing them into discipleship.
In other words, this is what the normal Christian life is about - telling people about Jesus, the kingdom of God, healing the sick, setting the captives free and making disciples. Not all are sent to go far and wide away from home and family, but all are sent to spread the word in their everyday encounters, in their normal sphere of influence.
For Reflection: Have I been living the normal Christian life? When was the last time I spoke with anyone about Jesus? When did I last interact with either the poor in life or the poor in spirit?
Let us pray. Well, Jesus, some days my Christian life doesn't look so normal. So I commit myself anew to being your disciple and acting like one. Help me to see opportunities to talk about you and the kingdom with my family and others, people I know and people I don't know, and to act on those opportunities. I want to be your disciple and live the normal Christian life.
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