Lambs Among Wolves

Luke 10:1-7, "The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit.  These were His instructions to them: 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into his fields.  Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.  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.  Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’  If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.  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."

 Have you ever been in the developing part of something that could potentially be a very big deal?  If you have, did you see and feel the attacks coming?  Satan has one plan, he wants to devour anything and everyone who could potentially lead others toward his enemy, Christ.  As I read these few verses this morning, this is as far as I got.  We have so few workers.  How can Satan win at this game?  Divide and conquer!  As we step out to do our work today, as in any day, he is trying to somehow separate us in order to bring us down. 

Have you ever watched the wolves work in order to capture their food.  They run the herd.  The chase begins and herd panics.  At first the prey sticks close together drawing strength from one another, but then the wolves give a surprise attack.  One of them has come in from a different angle and the herd breaks out into a full run.  The prey has lost focus and does not stand firm where they can use each others strengths to protect themselves against their adversary.  The chase ensues and the pack is spread too thin.  The weak one at the back has met his fate.  He is not strong enough to fight off the wolves alone.  He desperately tries to defend himself, but the pack only looks on from a distance.  Their breathing is rapid and you can see the steam rising as they watch in silence while the weakest one takes the hit.  They watch for a moment, before turning and, seemingly, prance off to another day.  On one hand you can watch this take place and think it is a win for the herd.  The weakest one was taken out.  A win really?  What if at that moment, you were the weakest one.  Would you see it as a win?  


1 Peter 5:8, " Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith."  


In the verses through Luke 10 there are many warnings and different ways to stay strong.  "And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road."  Why would Jesus tell them this?  Doesn't this go against what He usually teaches about courtesy and being kind to others?  Distractions!  Distractions come at us from any angle.  They will come against us and take our attention in a different direction.  The wolf, the lion, can distract me from my job at hand.  I can get wrapped up in what others are doing and then boom, that is all it takes.  My job, the task that was assigned to me, that one part does not get done, then the whole herd suffers.  I can get so wrapped up in another person's job and I start trying to do their job instead of my own.  This is called micromanaging.  I have major issues with this.  I know the part I have to play, but then I know their part as well.  If I stop and visit with them a while, I may find flaws in their approach to things.  "No your not doing that right.... Here do it this way."  Instead of stepping back and allowing them to do their job, I start micromanaging. I get in the way and herd is now separated.  Someone goes down.


"Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’  If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you."  How does this apply?  In this task, I see this one simple verse in a very strong manner.  Whenever you enter someone's home you get a different vantage point on the people who live there.  Many people say all of the right things at all of the right times, but when you live with them you can look at what you hear.  We are not meant to only listen. We are meant to watch.  I am not saying that we are supposed to be watching others to micromanage their lives.  Do your eyes see the things that are meant to be seen, or are you getting side tracked by what you hear? Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:35, both say basically the same thing, "But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it."  We all look in on others and form our own opinions on what is going on.  But do we really look at carefully what we hear?  Do we see what is really happening? Or do we just see that they are not doing the job the way we think it needs to be done?  Are we micromanaging, instead of just doing the job that we have been given?  Are we in the herd and staying strong together, or are we branching off and running in a panic as we are being attacked?  Who is going to be the prey this time?  


So many questions asked!  Are we able to see the truth in what is happening around us?  When you start to feel the pressure of the enemy it is time to stand strong together.  The attack that can destroy is the one that so easily separates us and leaves you alone as the most vulnerable one.  We are not called to judge, or to micromanage.  We are called to do the job that we have been assigned.  There is not one of us who is safe.  The final project is much bigger.  Satan is coming to steal, kill, and destroy.  He desires for us to be alone.  He will take you out by surprise attack.  I feel it.  I have been attacked in ways that I never saw coming.  How has he attacked you?  Are you feeling separated from the herd?  If you are, you are the target!  He has found your weakness.  Have yo been looking at carefully what you have been hearing?  Am I staying on track or am I getting delayed, just long enough to allow my part in this not to be brought to fruition?  What is my job?




After writing this, I listened to Beth Moore Here and Now- There and Then DVD 3 of 11, July 2
I believe this goes with our visit today.  Hope you have a most wonderful day today.  Take courage, as long as you are in the fight the enemy has not won!!!