Luke 10:1 (NKJV) “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.”
Luke 10:1 (NKJV)
“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.”
Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When Jesus Christ began His public ministry, He started alone. But as His mission progressed, He called disciples to join Him, knowing that after His departure, they would carry forward the work He had begun. He understood that “the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2, NKJV). No single person, not even the Son of God in the flesh, would gather the entire harvest without raising up others to labor alongside Him.
From the large group of disciples who followed Him, He chose twelve apostles for special training. These twelve received deeper teaching, personal mentorship, and private instructions that the rest did not. In due time, Jesus sent them out to practice what they had learned — healing the sick, casting out demons, preaching the Kingdom of God — much like students today are sent for fieldwork to gain practical experience.
Yet even with the Twelve actively ministering, the task remained vast. So Jesus appointed seventy others and sent them out “two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” This detail is profound: there are places where Christ Himself intends to go, but He sends His servants ahead as His representatives.
This means we do not go wherever we desire, but where He desires. We do not speak our own words, but His. We do not pursue our own goals, but His mission. In other words, we are ambassadors of Christ.
Paul explains this truth in
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV): “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV):
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
An ambassador represents the authority that sent him. He does not alter the message, nor does he promote his own agenda. Just as a president’s delegate speaks only the president’s words in an international assembly, so we speak the words of Christ wherever we are sent.
But what happens if a representative delivers a different message than the one given? He ceases to be a faithful representative and becomes, in essence, a traitor to the one who sent him. Spiritually, preaching a different gospel is rebellion against God.
Paul’s warning in
Galatians 1:6–9 (NKJV) is sobering: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:6–9 (NKJV) is sobering:
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Jesus preached repentance (Mark 1:15) and commanded baptism (Mark 16:16), yet today some dismiss these as unnecessary. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), yet some encourage cursing and hatred. Jesus warned us to live watchfully, ready for His return (Luke 12:35–37), yet some ministers feed people a message that makes them more comfortable in worldliness. Jesus declared that divorce followed by remarriage is adultery (Mark 10:11–12), yet some officiate such unions without hesitation.
Ask yourself: If Christ Himself were physically present in your pulpit, would He preach what you preach? Would He approve of the compromises you allow? Would He turn His ministry into entertainment or comedy? Would He promise houses, cars, and wealth without addressing sin, holiness, and eternal judgment?
A faithful representative must:
Speak only the message given by Christ (Jeremiah 23:28).
Live in a way that reflects His character (1 Peter 2:12).
Be ready to suffer for His name (2 Timothy 2:3).
Our mission is not to gain applause, wealth, or worldly influence, but to fulfill the will of the One who sent us. The reward of a faithful representative will be to hear the words of the Master:
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord.”
But the danger for the unfaithful is equally clear:
Matthew 24:48–51 (NKJV) “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master… will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 24:48–51 (NKJV)
“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master… will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Are you truly a faithful representative?
May the Lord help us to represent Him faithfully — speaking His words, doing His works, and fulfilling His mission — until the day He returns.
God bless you.
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