TAKING RISKS
Opening Prayer
Lord, anoint me to do what You have for me.
Read MARK 6:6b–13
6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith” (Hudson Taylor, 1832–1905).
Up to this point in the Gospel of Mark, the disciples have been following Jesus. They have witnessed the Master heal the sick, cast out demons, and reach out to the Gentile region. Heretofore, they have been passive observers. Now the time has come for them to put their hands to the plough and be sent out to fulfill their calling (Mark 3:14, 15). Are the disciples ready for the task? Based on the narrative of Mark thus far, the impression we have of them is far from complimentary. They routinely fail to understand the teaching of Jesus, or even who Jesus is (Mark 4:10,38, 40, 41). Yet, our Lord assumes a considerable risk by sending them out in pairs to teach, heal, and cast out demons.
Often, we make excuses for our perceived inability to do what the Lord calls us to do. We’re just not yet ready. But neither are the disciples truly ready. In fact, we can never be fully ready to be sent out by Jesus, no matter how much we have heard and learned. We need to take risks; we need to step out of our comfort zones. For the disciples, it is an honor and a privilege to carry the message of hope to a hurting and dying world. This remains our honor and privilege today. It is one responsibility that we should not decline.
Think of one thing that the Lord would like you to do that you have been brushing aside. It could be inviting your neighbor over for a meal or reaching out to your colleagues. It could be making a stand on your Christian witness. We cannot hide in the safe haven of the church. We must be sent out. We must take risks.
Apply
What was the last spiritual risk you took? What were the results?
Closing prayer
Lord, grant me the courage to step out of my comfort zone to serve You acceptably.
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