February 25 | Luke 9:1-6*

*To get the full picture of today's reading, you might want to read Luke 9:1-16

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DAILY READING

Luke 9:1-6

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REFLECTION

Set Out

By Pam Mann

What a day this must have been for these twelve disciples! How many people had they seen Jesus heal up to this point? Think of the folks set free from demons, cured of various diseases, and given new hope through Jesus. Now Jesus has empowered these twelve regular guys to drive out demons, to heal the sick, and to proclaim the kingdom of God! Just as they have seen Jesus do!

No wonder that they didn’t whine when he said: “No staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” Such a lack of provisions was likely not normal traveling practice in the first century, but this was no normal trip. This mission was God-powered, God-authorized kingdom business.

What’s a little grime on your only shirt or a little rumbling in your tummy compared to seeing the sick healed and evil defeated? If Jesus had sent you out like the Twelve, would you have cared if you had to sleep under the stars and didn’t know when or where you would get your next meal? Who would care about such minor inconveniences when the lame walk, the blind see, and the good news is preached?

Jesus forewarns the disciples of possible disinterest in some towns and explains how to deal with it. Then, they set out.

Aren’t you in awe of the obedience and determination of these disciples to proclaim the good news and heal people everywhere? Perhaps their lack of provisions helps keep them focused on God’s direction each step of the way. God equips them to preach and to heal as well as providing them with food and shelter.

What does this mean for us, the modern disciples.

Do we only attempt kingdom work which we can accomplish through our own resources? What would it look like if we could trust, like the original twelve disciples did, in God’s future provision? Where is God calling us to go? What is He asking us to attempt that we cannot do ourselves? What is the kingdom work which God wants to accomplish through us today? Who will we meet today who needs the good news, who needs healing, who needs to be set free from evil? Let us be ready to share the good news!

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for the example of your first disciples. We confess our timidity in comparison. Teach us to walk in step with Your Spirit, obedient to Your call on our lives today. Show us the people who need You. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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