My grandson recently acquired his driver’s license. In many places worldwide, earning that little plastic card is special. And where did he go for his first solo trip? An ice cream shop in a nearby town. In today’s passage from Mark, Jesus hands the disciples something like a driver’s license.
“He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt. He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” (Mark 6:7–13, CSB)
Jesus sent the disciples out to do what they had observed Him do. They were doing His mission and multiplying His reach. But Jesus sent them out with some unusual instructions. He essentially said, Take only the bare minimum of what you need. No food, no money, no extra clothes. A staff, sandals, and the clothes on their back are all that they needed.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus recounts this mission during the Last Supper. “He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said.” (Luke 22:35, CSB)
Now, we don’t want to make a law out of Jesus’ instructions. Sometimes Jesus calls us to His mission with little supply, and sometimes with abundant supply. And yet that’s nothing more than the gas in the tank. His real supply is Himself, His love, and His grace. Of those, there is no end.
Think about our mission. What do we really need? Do we need sound systems, buildings, and printed materials? Nothing wrong with any of those. But what we need is a heart that follows hard after Jesus. Do we need name recognition, fancy advertising, and financial support before we can do the mission? Not really. We need the Word of God in our hearts, His praise on our lips, and the prayers of others. Jesus sent them out with nothing, and yet, they lacked nothing. The power of God was with them to drive out demonic spirits and heal those sick and afflicted.
Whether we have lack or abundance we must rely on God to do the work He has placed in our hands. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. In everything, trust God. “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, CSB)
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