After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go.

– Luke 10:1

God is sending us.

At this point in Jesus’ earthly ministry according to Luke, He has commissioned His disciples and sent them out to proclaim the good news that God has come, as well as to heal the sick. They have returned and reported everything they experienced. Jesus also has recently fed more than 5,000 people and been transfigured into the fullness of His glory in the presence of his closest disciples.

And now, Jesus begins His last trek toward the city where He would give up His life. He gathers 70 other followers and appoints them to go ahead of Himself. Two by two, Jesus commissions them to go to the last places He would visit before His crucifixion.

Notice that Jesus sends His followers ahead to “every town and place where He Himself was about to go.” Jesus didn’t leave any place He would show up without a witness prior to His arrival. There was cultivation and preparation to be done, and Jesus sends those who love Him out to every place He intends to walk and share His message of life. In fact, as He instructs the 70, Jesus says this:

The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

God’s harvest is ready, and He is looking for those to go ahead of where Jesus intends to make Himself known.

Where is God calling you to go ahead? He has readied every encounter you will make on your journey, and has already provided for all your needs.

Talk to the worker at the counter, meet the new person at the event, take the initiative to send that e-mail. The harvest is abundant, and God wants more people to follow His call into the fields.

Be the one who goes before Jesus Himself arrives. You won’t be alone, because God is sending someone along with you. God intends to make Himself known to your community and your friends and your family.

Answer God’s personal appointment for you, even today. God is sending us where He Himself plans to move and transform lives.

Go ahead!