Flight Briefing
The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:37
The “flight briefing” called by the Master Instructor went exactly like this: He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. He told them, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:7-8; 16). Now that’s what I call a green light! The full endorsement of the Supreme Commander was given.
God’s men were given a sanction to fight (“gave them authority”), a message to forward (“preach this”), targets to find (sick, dead, lepers, demon possessed), power to free (“freely you have received, freely give”), a metaphor to internalize (“sending you out like sheep among wolves”) two commands to fulfill (“be shrewd” and “innocent”). Imagine you were there: which of these would send your neurons into high gear?
Every instruction up until then had to feel good to the disciples before that announcement. This condition for hostility would not change for these men until they were martyred. Jesus didn’t present the false hope or the codependent comfort. He gave it to them straight — this was the campaign to rid the world of Satan’s grip through kingdom advance. And He didn’t say “you’ll be sheep among wolves for just a while.” He meant it for life.
Father, this is tough stuff, but You promised me that You will never leave me. I accept Your promise.