Your Mission, If You So Choose to Accept...

Nehemiah 8:1-4A, 5-6, 7B-12

The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,
and they called upon Ezra the scribe
to bring forth the book of the law of Moses
which the LORD prescribed for Israel.
On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,
Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll 
so that all the people might see it
(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, 
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
As the people remained in their places,
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
"Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep"–
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"
And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,
"Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened."
Then all the people went to eat and drink,
to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy,
for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.

What strikes me about this passage is that they read from the scroll from daybreak until midday, I don't know about you, but that seems like a long time to sit around and listen to the word of God. However these people did so and they wept, THEY WEPT. I ponder this point and wonder why. I'll be honest I am no scholar, but I imagine it is because through hearing God's word they are realizing how long they have not been following his word and they then realize that is the reason why the Jewish people have been all that they have been through. However Ezra implores them to be happy and to celebrate. Do you and I take time to listen to the word of God? I mean REALLY LISTEN. I don't know bout you but I don't and maybe now is some small part I feel as the Israelites do here. 

LuKe 10:1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you, 
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

I read this passage and really wish that I had been there. Here we have a select few of Jesus' disciples being sent out to share the good news of Jesus Christ. There have been few moments in my life when I have been able to be the bearer of REALLY GOOD NEWS. Those have been really cool times. To bring someone great news and to see their utter joy and relief on their face is a true gift. But hold on a second, we can all do this everyday. We can all study the word of God and with prayer and direction share the Gospel and the good news. Will we always be welcomed? No, but notice how Jesus sent his disciples out without anything extra. Again, I am no expert but to me it seems that they go out, without, so that they rely totally on God. We have so much convenience and technology these days... when was the last time that you relied on God on the average moment of the average day. That's what God want. He wants us to rely on him. He wants us to constantly seek is council so that we STAY on the right path once we are there. He wants us constantly in his company so he can love us and we can bask in that love. And as Jesus instructs, it's not up to us to make believers out of men and women. If they choose not to believe then we shouldn't harden out hearts, yet we should move one and not be distracted for our mission is still the same. To love God with all our mind, body and soul and to love everyone we meet as we love ourselves, and finally to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.