From Luke 10:1 – “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.”

When I was growing up, the image above was the cultural picture of the modern street prophet. His message was taken from Amos 4:12c. And it was widely criticized, scoffed at and denigrated.

And yet, there is some truth in it, isn’t there?

Enter Luke 10:1.

There may in fact be no more succinct description in all of Scripture regarding the breadth and nature of true Gospel ministry than is given in Jesus’ words in this verse.

What is it we are to be doing above all other things? Preparing people for the arrival of Jesus.

We do this in preaching the Gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone – so that they might enter the Kingdom and be reconciled to God.

And we teach those who believe how to walk with God, informed by the Word, empowered by the Spirit – to grow in the likeness of Christ that they may be welcomed by Him at His return.

Preachers, teachers, brother and sisters in Christ: Go into all the world, where Jesus Himself is about to arrive – and prepare all who hear you for His arrival. Reconcile to the lost to Him so that they might anticipate His arrival. And strengthen, encourage and assist Believers in their growth in His image, that they might be all the more ready to receive Him in due time.