Near You Now

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Luke 10:1-16

3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road. 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. 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!’ (Luke 10:3-11 NLT)

Jesus sent seventy-two of his followers in teams of two to all the towns and villages he intended to visit. He told them to keep it simple, demonstrate God’s care and power, and tell the people of the villages, “The Kingdom of God is near you now.”

I believe God’s assignment for us Christ-followers is to do pretty much the same thing. We’re to make daily contact with people Jesus wants to meet, to show them the love and kindness and power of God, and to bring God’s Kingdom near them.

Shouldn’t it be true that every time someone interacts with us Christians, the Kingdom of God is near? Could it be true for you and me that in each interaction we have with another person today, the “Kingdom of God is near you now?”

Friends, we will interact today with people Jesus loves. Let’s ask God to help us be a healing, encouraging, peace-bringing influence, and to help us faithfully represent the Kingdom of God to each person we encounter today.

Oh, by the way, remember that the point is to introduce people to Jesus, not to wipe the dust off our feet in judgment! Just so we don’t forget!

Prayer:

Father, I need to be often-reminded that interactions between Christ-followers like me and those who don’t know Jesus yet are intended to bring the Kingdom of God near them. Help me to be a faithful and consistent representative of your Kingdom. Make me “Kingdom Near You Now” aware and conscious all day today. Amen.