S = Luke 9:1-6 "And
he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons
and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom
of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your
journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And
wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust
from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and
went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere."
O = Jesus sent the twelve out on a training mission—it seems like so much of his interaction with them was intentional preparation for their mission after he was gone. He send them out with everything and with nothing. “Everything” in the sense that they had a message “the good news of the kingdom” and a mission to deliver the message. They were also given power and authority to overcome demons and to heal the sick. They went with “nothing” in the sense that they took no provisions, no possessions that might have taken their trust off of God and onto their own efforts in this new partnership. They also had no capacity to enrich themselves in the process. They were expressly warned to not even upgrade their accommodations by moving from “house to house” in the ensuing hospitality “buyers’ market” that might follow healings and deliverances. The implicit message was for them to trust God and stay on target. Why? Besides the fact that people needed to hear the message, the twelve needed to see the faithfulness of God full-strength that otherwise might have been masked by divided trust. There is nothing wrong with things whether staff, bag, bread, or money (for later on they are told to take them with them) but for this specific training mission they are set aside.
A = What training mission does Jesus have in store for me this week? Will I trust him enough to see His provision? Will I be able to return at the end of the week and report on what God has done and taught through me (Mark 6:30)? Or will I only be able to talk about what I have done? Will I get to testify about how God met all my needs in amazingly creative ways (as I did what he told me to do)? Will I see spiritual victory and physical healings? I suppose it depends on whose power in I place my trust.
P = O Lord, it is so easy for me to take my eyes off of your plan for me and the others that I will meet this week…to begin to trust my own “God-given” ability and intellect to provide for myself. Let me walk in faith this week so I can see your plan come together for us all. I know I really add nothing to the mix, but trust and loving obedience. May you move in power and authority in me and my family this week! Amen.
O = Jesus sent the twelve out on a training mission—it seems like so much of his interaction with them was intentional preparation for their mission after he was gone. He send them out with everything and with nothing. “Everything” in the sense that they had a message “the good news of the kingdom” and a mission to deliver the message. They were also given power and authority to overcome demons and to heal the sick. They went with “nothing” in the sense that they took no provisions, no possessions that might have taken their trust off of God and onto their own efforts in this new partnership. They also had no capacity to enrich themselves in the process. They were expressly warned to not even upgrade their accommodations by moving from “house to house” in the ensuing hospitality “buyers’ market” that might follow healings and deliverances. The implicit message was for them to trust God and stay on target. Why? Besides the fact that people needed to hear the message, the twelve needed to see the faithfulness of God full-strength that otherwise might have been masked by divided trust. There is nothing wrong with things whether staff, bag, bread, or money (for later on they are told to take them with them) but for this specific training mission they are set aside.
A = What training mission does Jesus have in store for me this week? Will I trust him enough to see His provision? Will I be able to return at the end of the week and report on what God has done and taught through me (Mark 6:30)? Or will I only be able to talk about what I have done? Will I get to testify about how God met all my needs in amazingly creative ways (as I did what he told me to do)? Will I see spiritual victory and physical healings? I suppose it depends on whose power in I place my trust.
P = O Lord, it is so easy for me to take my eyes off of your plan for me and the others that I will meet this week…to begin to trust my own “God-given” ability and intellect to provide for myself. Let me walk in faith this week so I can see your plan come together for us all. I know I really add nothing to the mix, but trust and loving obedience. May you move in power and authority in me and my family this week! Amen.
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