Scripture to Read: Luke 9:3–5
In Luke 9:3–5, God had Luke record this as Jesus gave the disciples specific instructions, “And He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. 5 And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’” Jesus told them everything He did NOT want them to take with them. Part of the reason is that rabbis in the days of Jesus could not go into the temple area with a staff, shoes, or a moneybag because they did not want people thinking that they were there for any other reason than to carry out their service to our Lord. Jesus called the disciples to carry out His work: “preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:6). Also, having them take very little with them would have taught them to trust the Lord for their daily provisions. God had taught Paul much about relying on Him to meet his needs, as God had Paul record in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” God wants us to trust Him with our every need and to fulfill, day by day, what He’s called us to do.
Challenge & Application
How has God been teaching you to rely on Him for your every need?
How have you seen God meet your needs when it seemed like it would be impossible?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!