Take nothing for your journey

9 December. Day 9.

Luke chapter 9 has so much to talk about, so many thoughts to share and so many kingdom concepts to explore, but there’s one verse that I want to hone in on for today. Verse 3.

And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. {ESV} The message version says, ” Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple, you are the equipment.”

Jesus has just given power and authority to the apostles and sent them out to minister and preach his word (verse 1 and 2) and one of the instructions he gives them is “take nothing ” with you. In other words, just go! So often I think we disqualify ourselves for the task Jesus has set us on. So often we need to just quickly get things in order. So often we need to pack and get ready. I came across this quote last week, ” God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” We may be unqualified, but not disqualified! He calls us and He therefore equips us! How exciting is that!

So Jesus asks his apostles to take nothing with them as He sends them out. No walking stick, no food, no money, no bag and only the clothes on their backs. Can we trust God to provide for all our needs as we continue on mission with Him and as we continue to do what He has called and asked us to? Can we go and step out by faith and in faith on the path He sets before us and trust Him to equip us as we go? Are we willing to use what resources and things we have at this present moment to serve and love the world which Christ came to save?

It is so sobering and so exciting to realize the beauty of this verse. To realize the power and resources that are within the one who spoke these words. To realize the impact we can make if we trust these words and to realize the life-changing opportunities we can be part of if we choose to believe the one who said these words.

As we wait for and anticipate Christmas, the birth of the King of Kings, let us take nothing with us, keep it simple and continue being on mission with Him and for Him.