Today’s Reading: Mark 5:24-34

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

 

Mark 6:7

Reflection

Jesus sends His disciples out in pairs to preach and to heal. He is very specific in His instructions to them. First, the disciples are not to take anything with them on their journey. No money, no extra clothes, and no extra food should be a distraction from their message or give people the wrong idea about their purpose. Traveling without all of these extra provisions not only helped people to focus on their teaching, but also caused the disciples to remain completely dependent on God for the duration of their journey. All meals and resources would be met by God along the way. This was very crucial not only for the disciples to grow in their trust of God, but also to show that their message of trusting in God was proclaimed by men who themselves depended on Him wholeheartedly.

Second, the disciples would stay where they were we welcomed, and would leave from wherever they were rejected, dusting off their feet as they went. They communed and fellowshipped with those who received them and their message, taking more time to teach them and build relationships with them. But if people rejected them, they would dust off their feet as a sign that they would not have any connection with them. The disciples would respond to people’s reaction to their teaching. How might Jesus’ instructions to take nothing extra on the journey be applied to the way we approach serving Jesus?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Message of Salvation, which is an honor and privilege to share with others. Thank You for first changing my life with Your Gospel Truth, and for also allowing me to be a small part of Your wonderful Work. I pray that as I go forth in Your Name, You would continue to provide all I need to do Your Will. Show me where You are leading, and give me the faith to move in the way that You desire. In Your Precious Name I pray, AMEN.


Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Mark 6:1-29; 2 Samuel 15; Daniel 9