Today’s scripture: Mark 6:7-13 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Kristin Lee):
In today’s scripture, Jesus sends the disciples out in pairs to spread his word. He instructs them to take no possessions other than a walking stick, the clothes on their back, and the shoes on their feet. He advises them to stay as long as they are welcome and to brush the dust off their feet at the places they are not. With these directions, they go off and preach repentance.
There is a strong message in this passage that material possessions are not necessary and have no bearing on whether we can be Christ’s disciples. Perhaps possessions even detract from our efforts. (Jesus actually instructed them NOT to take anything.) So I ask the question, if we don’t have things to support our mission, what do we have?
In the movie Keeping the Faith, there is a scene where Jake, a rabbi, decides he doesn’t want to pursue a serious relationship with Anna, the woman he’s been dating, because she’s not Jewish. Not only is Anna not Jewish, she doesn’t appear to have much faith of any kind. He is certain the members of his temple would not condone the relationship. After Anna tells Jake that he needs to be patient with those to whom faith doesn’t come so easily, she tells him that he will never be the kind of spiritual leader that he could be until he learns to put a little faith in other people.
Anna is right. Armed with the word of God and stories of the Bible, we may be accepted into the lives of those who want to increase their faith. But in order to be an effective spiritual leader, we must trust those we want to affect with how the word of God and stories of the Bible have helped us. It’s the difference between glibly quoting scriptures about forgiveness and sharing how hard you’ve struggled after making the choice to forgive.
It’s hard to trust others with our moments of vulnerability, the moments when we stand alone because we try to do the right thing according to God’s word. But the disciples didn’t go off to preach with lessons written on parchment stowed underneath their tunics. They left with their experiences, what they had heard and what they had seen and what love and peace they had felt as a result.
Thought for the day: Give me strength, O Lord, to share with those I love the stories of my faith, as imperfect as it is.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.