APRIL 5, 2017

“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” 
― Warren Buffett

JUDGES 15-17

15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

17So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^c And his strength left him.(16:15-19)

LUKE 10:1-24

1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^a others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He 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.3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do 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.’ 6If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

JOURNAL 

Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples ahead of him to help prepare the people for his visit. This is really fascinating to think about. They are the first missionaries of the kingdom. Going out into hostile territory. They are to work for what they get as evidenced by the phrase "for the worker deserves his wages". I wonder exactly what they were sent to do? No matter the details...they were sent and were definitely accompanied by the spirit of God, for upon their return they state that "even the demons submit to us in your name".

Thinking about this juxtaposed with the story of Samson gives a very clear picture that the spirit of God was actively working in peoples lives before pentecost. To follow a mission from God must be done with his spirit or it is doomed to fail.

23Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

24Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

1 CHRONICLES 16:23-24