Do you ever read Bible verses, and start thinking that perhaps you need to change the way you look at life? Think about that as you read the verses today as Jesus sends his disciples out on a training session.
Luke 9: 1 – 10 NLT
“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveller’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. 5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”
6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
7 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, (son of King Herod and ruler over Galilee) heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. 8 Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
9 “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?” And he kept trying to see him.
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.”
Jesus decides it’s training time. The disciples have been watching him for a while, but now it’s time for them to get actively involved. Jesus knows they will be in charge when he leaves … so they need to be prepared.
First of all, he tells them they will be acting with his power and authority. They are given the ability to cast out demons and heal all diseases. This has nothing to do with their own power; it is totally God working in and through them. This was a point in history where God was giving evidence that Jesus was His Son. As the disciples travelled, they were spreading the Good News of Jesus. Today, as we serve Jesus in some capacity, we need to remember that we too do it with God’s power and authority. We are not the know-it-alls or the “hotshots”. We serve him completely under his leading. We need to pray and ask for his help as we head out the door, or talk on the phone, or contact people on the internet. As we go to serve him at church. That makes me think. How often do I pray and ask for his presence and guiding when I am involved in some kind of service? Or do I think I’m capable and just head out?
Jesus’ request that they travel extremely light is interesting. No walking stick, bag, food, money or even a change of clothes? It looks like he wants them to rely on him completely in all areas – their mission and their personal well-being. In our culture today, that notion of living the most simplistic life possible is rejected. It’s just not us at all. It’s definitely something I struggle with as I try to decide how much to save to make sure life is fine, and how much to give away. What can I do without?
Jesus tells them to stay at only one house in a village. Don’t move around from house to house. Charles Swindoll in his commentary, Living Insights: Luke, says that ancient Mideastern culture considered hospitality as a sacred duty for every household. Moving from one house to another would appear that they were seeking better hosts. Again, it looks like Jesus was telling them to be satisfied with whatever was offered; don’t look for anything better.
If they weren’t accepted, they were to leave and move on. It was expected that not everyone would welcome them, just as not everyone welcomed Jesus. Don’t get upset, don’t worry about it – just leave. Again, we should expect that not everyone will agree with us and want to accept faith in Jesus. We should be willing to talk and share with anyone, but be willing to back off when they say they are not interested.
When they returned, Jesus took them away for a quiet time to reflect and talk about their experiences. Learning time. That is another thing to think about. How often do we take the time to reflect on how things have gone in our area of service? Are we afraid to find out changes need to be made, that we’ve made mistakes? Yet Jesus took time to reflect with his followers.
There are some difficult lessons for us as Christ followers today in these verses. Serving Jesus is our focus. He is the one who gives us what we need in our service. It’s not our superb ability and talent that matters. It’s Jesus who matters. Do we need a fancy, comfortable life-style? Do we need lots of money and programs to attract people to God?
Or, do we need to live with just the basics, and be able to talk with anyone who is willing to listen? Do we need to live in a more simplistic way, and concentrate on caring for those around us? Hard questions.
Are we willing to evaluate how our service projects are going and wait on God for his leading if changes need to be made?
Tough questions.
Our song for today is First by Lauren Daigle