Reflections on Luke 10:1–20
There’s a rhythm to life in this season—familiar routines, quieter mornings, maybe a bit more time to reflect. But even so, many of us still wonder: Is there more God wants from me? Am I doing what matters most?
It’s not that we’re idle. We keep up with family, offer support where we can, volunteer, pray. And yet, deep down, we may wonder whether the most meaningful chapters of our story have already been written.
But then we come to Luke 10.
Jesus sends out seventy-two followers—not the twelve apostles, not the young or influential, not the religious elite. Just ordinary people. People with names we’ll never know. People likely older than we imagine. He sends them out with no fanfare, no supplies, no promise of comfort—just a message of peace.
And that message still matters. Because the same Jesus who sent them, sends us.
Kingdom Work Never Retires
There’s no expiration date on being sent by Jesus. He doesn’t put an age limit on grace, and He certainly doesn’t stop using people just because their work resumes have slowed down.
In fact, the more time we’ve spent walking with Jesus, the more ready we are to walk with others—to bring His peace into everyday places. That’s what the seventy-two did. Not by starting programs or drawing crowds, but by showing up. Entering homes. Sharing peace. Noticing need. Pointing people to the nearness of the Kingdom.
And most of them did it on days that weren’t called Sunday.
Let’s be honest—there’s a subtle tension in church life. We want to see new people come. We hope Sunday morning feels vibrant. But if we’re not careful, we start acting as if Sunday is the only place ministry happens—and as if growth only counts when it’s visible.
But real Kingdom growth often happens off the radar.
Jesus sends us into neighborhoods, coffee shops, family rooms, grocery stores—not to impress anyone, but to bring peace, healing, and good news. No strings attached. Not as bait to fill pews, but because that’s what people need and that’s what Jesus told us to do.
The church grows when the people of God live as sent ones—not just when the room fills up.
What We Carry Still Matters
The Greek word Luke uses for “sent”—apesteilen—carries real weight. It’s the kind of sending that comes with authority. These followers weren’t just wandering. They were representing Jesus. They weren’t asked to be impressive. Just faithful.
And the message they carried? Peace. Not the kind the world sells, but the kind Jesus gives—eirēnē, wholeness, restoration, the sense that even in our frailty, we’re part of something sacred.
We don’t have to create peace. We don’t have to fix people. But we can carry the presence of Jesus into a room, a phone call, a lunch with a friend, a conversation with a neighbor.
The Kingdom doesn’t arrive because of our strength. It’s already come near. We simply live like we believe that’s true.
Rejoicing in What’s Already Done
When the disciples returned from their mission, thrilled at what had happened—healings, victories, moments of power—Jesus redirected their joy: Don’t rejoice in what you’ve accomplished. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
What a gift to rest in that.
Our names are already known by God. Our stories are held in His hands. We don’t serve to earn His approval. We serve because we already have it. The joy of heaven isn’t reserved for the young or the strong—it belongs to those who belong to Jesus, no matter the stage of life.
So, What Now?
Let me offer three simple ways to live this out—not with a full calendar, but with open eyes and a willing heart.
- Name Your Towns
Think about where you already go: your neighborhood, your doctor’s office, the place you pick up groceries, or the spot you always sit for coffee. These are your towns. These are the places Jesus may already be working. Ask Him to show you. Pray, “Lord, send your peace into this place.”
2. Travel Light
Jesus told the disciples not to take extra baggage. That applies spiritually, too. Are you holding on to old frustrations, regrets, or assumptions that keep you spiritually “stuck”? Lay one of them down this week. Even for just seven days. See what space opens up when your hands aren’t so full.
3. Tell the Story
Keep a small notebook or note in your phone. Ask yourself each day: Where did I sense God today? Maybe it was a moment of peace. A conversation that mattered. A nudge to pray. Share just one of those moments with someone else this week. That’s how faith multiplies.
A Church on the Move
What would it look like for our church to live like this together?
No flashy programs. No pressure to perform. Just people—mostly retired, yes, but not retired from being disciples—paying attention to where God is already working and stepping into those moments with love and trust.
This church will go on. Not because of how the sanctuary looks on Sunday morning. But because of how many people show up for Jesus on Monday afternoon.
You are not stuck. You are sent. Still sent. Because God’s not done. And neither are you.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”
—2 Thessalonians 3:16
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