Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s look at what the Lord can do with only an appointed few.

Today’s scripture, Luke 10:1-2 (NASB1995) shares…
[1] Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. [2] And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

And Luke 10:17-20 (NASB1995) follows up…
[17] The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” [18] And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. [19] Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. [20] Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Consider…
Do you remember the ‘buddy system’? According to Oxford Languages, the buddy system is a cooperative arrangement whereby individuals are paired or teamed up and assume responsibility for one another’s instruction, productivity, welfare, or safety.

When I read today’s verse 1, I thought about how Jesus used the buddy system to evangelize for Him. Notice, Jesus appointed and sent 35 pairs of individuals to prepare the way that He planned to come.

This highlights a couple things about God.

First, God values two more than one. In fact Ecclesiastes 4:9 (ERV) declares…
[9] Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.

And Jesus explains in Matthew 18:19-20 (NASB1995)…
[19] “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. [20] For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

This makes me ask, who is the second person that God has appointed to partner with you in building His Kingdom?

My second person is my anointed wife Dana. We are responsible for one another’s…

• Godly instruction, through daily prayer and devotion
• Spiritual productivity, through support and encouragement. Dana is the Editor and Chief of this blog
• Welfare, through practicing the unconditional love and unlimited forgiveness that God extends to us individually. Also bearing one anothers burdens.
• And safety, by praying for and walking with one another through life.

As l think about my wife and God’s intentionality of servant co-operative’s, I am reminded of Genesis 2:18 (NASB1995), which emphasizes…
[18] Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

We normally focus on this verse in the context of marriage, but I believe God wants us to also recognize He always intended for us to have a helper to fulfill the purposes that He appointed us to do.

Which brings me to the second highlight, which is God chooses the few that wants to do prep work for Him. That makes me think of the Head Chef selecting the sous chefs that will help prepare the perfect meal.

In Matthew 22:14 (NASB1995), Jesus emphasized…
[14] For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The question with God isn’t if we’re called, it’s have we been chosen? Let me expound on what the Holy Spirit is showing me here. You may have been called to a church, community, family, but what were you chosen to do? I mean how does God want you to serve where He has called you to be?

1 Peter 4:10 (NASB1995) exhorts…
[10] As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

I like that, we are to be good stewards of God’s GRACE, by serving others with the underserved gifts He has given us.

This is a timely reminder that all that we are and ever hope to be is by God’s GRACE.

Another takeaway from today’s scripture is that God wants us to focus on His goal and not our show. I base my statement on Jesus’ response to the 70 individual’s excitement about what they were able to do in His name. Notice Jesus said in verse 20…
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Jesus is reminding us that regardless of what He tasks and empowers us to do, we must never forget that the most important thing we should celebrate is our eternal relationship with Him.

God can use anything or anyone to accomplish His goals, but what He wants most is a relationship with you.

Which brings me back to the helpers He places in our lives. The main goal of a helper is to assist someone in achieving their aim or purpose. That’s exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NASB1995) explains…
[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, [13] which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

The Holy Spirit helps us understand and speak God’s language. That’s the same thing we should help and be helped by others to do.

Ephesians 5:17-21 (ERV) tells us…
[17] So don’t be foolish with your lives, but learn what the Lord wants you to do. [18] Don’t be drunk with wine, which will ruin your life, but be filled with the Spirit. [19] Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. [20] Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [21] Be willing to serve each other out of respect for Christ.

Do your relationships help build each other up in God?

Are you actively living Hebrews 10:23-25 (NASB1995)? It exhorts…
[23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; [24] and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, [25] not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Notice we should stimulate one another to love and good deeds. How are you influencing and being influenced?

The Holy Spirit is wanting us to understand that God appointed people into our lives and us into theirs for His purposes. This means we need to be mindful of every relationship we have and seek to honor God in them.

I am being instructed to close with 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NASB1995), which concludes…
[11] Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. [12] Greet one another with a holy kiss. [13] All the saints greet you. [14] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Appreciate and cherish the like-minded people that God has placed you with to serve Him and accomplish His purposes. You’ll know He approves, because His love, grace and fellowship will permeate all that you do together.

Today, I encourage you to acknowledge and thank the helpers God has paired you with to build His Kingdom. You might be surprised to see how your recognition may help inspire them to appreciate their helpers too.

Today’s Song is…
United We Stand

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)