Take Nothing

Take Nothing

Mark 6:6-13
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
⁸ These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰ Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
¹² They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³ They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Ironic, isn't it?  Here Jesus is calling out to the 12 most important people in his life, giving them instructions that are somewhat counter cultural to what we might think.  If these twelve were going to follow the king of Kings, you would think that there would be a host of servants, food, livestock and more offered to them as they would travel from place to place following Jesus.  You would think that they would dine at the most lavish places in town and stay at the best homes provided for them.  

On the contrary!  Jesus says, TAKE NOTHING...except the bear essentials.  Do not even take food with you, only the clothes on your back and the sandals on your feet.  NOTHING ELSE.  He even told them that they were going to be rejected by some, and when this happens, keep going to the next place, and the next place.

What was Jesus showing His disciples as he was asking them to follow Him?  ALL YOU NEED IS ME!  Do not worry about the other things that you might value as important; leave it all behind and follow me and here is the most important thing - TRUST ME and I will provide all your needs.  When this happens, many lives will be changed, and we see the twelve preach boldly, driving out demons and anointing the sick and people were healed.

Application today, for me, is Jesus wants me to follow Him and trust Him, not stuff.  He is not asking me to bring my talents, my money, my whatever...no, He is asking me to bring my life to Him and allow Him to use me for His good pleasure.  Wow, Lord teach me how to do this!