Luke Part 2 Week 11

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:5-7 

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. ⁷ Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.” 

Jesus gave further instructions to the 72 being sent out to witness about the coming Kingdom. After arriving in the first home, they were not to change to another home in that town. The disciples were to eat and drink whatever they were served in the home. The disciples should not “hesitate to accept hospitality.” Jesus told them they were deserving of it.  

REFLECT 

These 72 disciples were dependent on the hospitality of others for their livelihood. Do you know of some in the same situation today? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the topic of hospitality. Read Romans 12:13 that is written to believers in general. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-5 for the requirements of being an elder, or overseer, of a local church. Such a person must “enjoy having guests in his home.” Is this true of you? 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:8-12 

⁸ “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. ⁹ Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ ¹⁰ But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ ¹² I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.” 

Jesus gave further instructions to the 72 disciples going out in pairs. They were to eat whatever was set before them, heal the sick, and tell them, “The Kingdom of God is near you now.” The reason this was true was because the Lord Jesus, the King, would soon be coming to them. Any town that refused the disciples and their message would be treated as a Gentile country—the disciples would wipe off the dust of the town from their feet. 

REFLECT 

Consider how serious it is to reject the salvation message. There will come a time when it is will be the last time it is heard with no second chance.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about answering those who think there will be chances after death to trust in Jesus for salvation. See 2 Corinthians 6:2 for an urgent message. Read Hebrews 9:27 that shows what occurs after death.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:13-15 

¹³ “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. ¹⁴ Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. ¹⁵ And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.” 

This serious reminder of rejecting Jesus is a reminder of what the late Billy Graham was known for saying. He said, “If God doesn’t judge America for its sins, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Here Jesus refers to Korazin and Bethsaida for not turning to God after viewing His miracles. Even Capernaum—Jesus’ hometown after leaving Nazareth—would not be honored in heaven because the people had not turned to God.  

REFLECT 

Think how sad it is that people who saw the miracles of Jesus refused to turn to God for salvation. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the truth that miracles or even someone rising from the dead does not convince others to turn to Jesus. In addition to the verses in this day’s reading, see Luke 16:30-31. For proof of this see John 12:9-11 for what the religious leaders wanted to do to someone who had been brought back to life after death. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:16 

¹⁶ Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” 

Anyone responding to the disciples who were acting as ambassadors for Jesus was seen as responding to Him. Those who accepted their message was accepting Jesus’ message. Anyone rejecting their message was viewed as rejecting the heavenly Father who had sent Jesus.  

REFLECT 

Think about Christ-followers today who represent Jesus by teaching what the Bible says. They are like the 72 disciples acting as ambassadors for Jesus. 

RESPOND 

Followers of Jesus today can only effectively witness for Him by saying what the Bible says. There are those who criticize believers who say there is only one way to heaven. See John 14:6 for the recorded words of Jesus. See also Acts 4:12 to read what the apostle Peter, or “St. Peter” to some, said about Jesus in referring to salvation.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:17-20 

¹⁷ When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” ¹⁸ “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! ¹⁹ Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. ²⁰ But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” 

Jesus viewing Satan fall from heaven seems to be a reference to Satan’s power being broken. His actual fall from heaven is recorded in Revelation 12:7-9 that will occur during the Great Tribulation. Jesus promised special protection for the 72. He cautioned, however, that they should not rejoice as much because of their power over evil spirits as rejoicing over their own salvation. 

REFLECT 

Do these words of Jesus remind you to be especially thankful for your salvation because you have believed in Jesus?  

RESPOND 

Do you remember what it was like for you when you first believed in Jesus for salvation? Ask a friend about how he or she felt at the time. Do not be guilty of what the church in Ephesus was because of what Jesus said in Revelation 2:4. Return to what you thought and did at first after you received Jesus as Savior.