Keeping it Simple

Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.”

Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.

Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn’t know what to think. There were people saying John had come back from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, still others that some prophet of long ago had shown up. Herod said, “But I killed John—took off his head. So who is this that I keep hearing about?” Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action. (Luke 9:1-9)

We learn more by doing than by listening. Jesus understood this about human beings. So Jesus sent some of his disciples off on a mission trip so they could put his words into action.

When Jesus made his disciples go about the countryside, he gave them the authority—that is the ability—to do exactly what he had done. They could cure disease and they could cast out demons. Along with that, they proclaimed the good news that God’s kingdom had come.

Along with that activity, Jesus told them that while they were away, they needn’t worry about their expenses or where they were going to stay. God would provide for them; they were to go out with only the clothes on their backs, nothing more.

Faith comes from experience, not just from words on a page or from the mouth of a gifted speaker. We learn to rely on someone only with the passage of time and experience. So the disciples, with this experience of healing and teaching like Jesus, learned to depend on God in ways they never had before.

Life is how we learn to trust God: we hear what he says to do and then we do it. We begin to live as if his words are true. As it works out for us, as we do what he tells us, so our faith grows. Trust is earned.

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