A Prayer for Kingdom Workers

Refugee children of South Sudan with a beautiful curiousity about faith. 

Scripture:

Luke 10:21-24

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Observation:

“At that same hour” is a connection to Jesus’ conversation with the seventy-two who had just returned from their traveling ministry. In their excitement they responded with much that they had learned, including their awe at the power of God. Jesus, empowered by the Spirit then began to pray for his disciples who had just experienced what it was like to be engaged in kingdom business.

What is to be made clear is that God is at work here, in and through Jesus’ redemptive activity. It’s a very Trinitarian response, understanding that kingdom work is never done through one’s own power. It is participation in a relationship with the Triune God that transforms ordinary people into kingdom workers and disciples. 

This truth is simply not seen by the people in power, or by those who think that they have authority. They look down on Jesus’ disciples because all they see is their education (or lack there-of) and rank in society. Jesus sees the beauty of faith in the eyes of an innocent child. What is missed by most of those in the world is the power of God that has infused Jesus’ ministry, and by their participation, that of the seventy-two. 

Jesus is reaffirming that the work of discipleship must be firmly planted in the activity of Christ, and Christ IS the son of God. In an intimate voicing with the disciples he affirms that this is what they have seen; that Jesus is the son of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The veil has been removed and they have observed and witnessed the power of the Triune God.

Application:

Jesus’ prayer, empowered by the Holy Spirit leaps off the page and hits us today. The call to go and make disciples has never been rescinded. “At the same hour,” it comes with this prayer and promise. 

We are never called to participate in disciple-making on our own. Every follower of Christ is called into a relationship in which we fellowship with the Triune God, and are then sent out as kingdom workers. It is in fellowship, or participation with the Divine nature that one is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The early disciples were stunned by what happened when they were sent out, and our same God is still in the business of empowering those who are sent.

Therefore, our call is to come before our Lord as innocent children, willing to follow him in faith into kingdom work. Our trust is in the Lord, not in our own power or abilities. When that happens we will be blessed to experience the miraculous engagement of God in this world. 

Prayer:

Lord, may I live in that child-like wonder of participation with you. Amen.