March 30- Willing To Go, Without A Plan

Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23
Luke 8:40-9:6
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 12:5-7

Luke 9
¹When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ²and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. ⁴Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."

What strikes me in this verse is how odd the plan for the apostles really is. First they are charged to preach and perform miracles; two tasks that so far we have never seen them actually do or given lessons on how to do them. Secondly, they are told to go without proper supplies. You can't get less prepared than the apostles here. Sure, they've been with Jesus. Yes, they've heard the sermons. But, many of them were confused as he told them about the kingdom. Now he sends them off, and guess what... they aren't allowed to bring bread, jackets, or money!

There are a number of ways to take this verse. I want us to see that sometimes we over-think our task and put too much emphasis on the details of getting there. The apostles knew the job they had toi do, so they went and did it. Did it require trust? Sure. Were they wet behind the ears? Yes. But that was actually the plan! So, we remember that it may not be about great planning. Rather, it may just be about going. Are we willing to go? Maybe that's what it's about.