What, No iPhone?
Opening Prayer
Make this your prayer: “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God'” (Psa. 31:14, TNIV).
Read MARK 6:6-13
[6] He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. [7] Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. [8] These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. [9] Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. [10] Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. [11] And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” [12] They went out and preached that people should repent. [13] They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What was the message and ministry of the twelve?Leave your wallet, your iPhone and your car keys, and go on tour for a few weeks with one other person to preach the gospel, cast out demons and heal the sick. Don’t worry about Travelodge or Holiday Inn, just find people’s homes to stay in. In other words, go with only the clothes on your back. How confident would you feel with these instructions? Jesus was teaching the disciples that God was more than enough to rely on to meet their needs. If people failed to receive them and their message, they were rejecting God himself. The ritual Jesus instructs them to perform (11) would have been well understood by Jews of the time: they were making a mistake and they might not get another chance. The disciples took Jesus at his word and the twelve went out and did what they had watched Jesus do (12,13). So, does Jesus wants us to live without money or resources today? No. In Luke 22:35-37, Jesus tells the disciples to do the opposite: prepare and equip yourself for the task ahead. Why the change? The disciples had proved God’s faithfulness and would now always rely on him. But the way ahead presented greater challenges.
Apply
Are you trusting in any of your possessions rather than God for your security? If so, what will you do?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, may I always find my security in You. I know that You are enough for all my needs.
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