1-5 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.”
6 Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.
Reflection
I love themed parties. I always have and my mom was always so good at giving me the best birthday party I could want each year. Specifically, the cakes are what I remember the most. In my memories, my mom made the most beautiful and delicious cakes to perfectly reflect the theme of each birthday party. Now that I am MOM, making a beautiful cake for my girls has become one of my top priorities in birthday festivities.
I was so excited for my little “3-Rex” and her dinosaur-themed party. This was our first proper birthday party for her. My mom and sister were helping with day-of preparations, but I was preparing decorations, goody bags, activities, and the cake myself in the days leading up to it. The event planner in my brain wanted to do so much more than my tired mom-body could really accomplish. Entertaining a toddler and comforting an infant took up all of my time during the day, so I could only make progress on party things at night, and even then, around restless baby wake-ups.
We were less than 24 hours away from party time, I had baked the cake the previous evening and was decorating it with dinosaurs. Around eleven o’clock that night, I was just getting ready to put it in the fridge to chill, when the cat jumped from the floor, INTO THE CAKE! (insert expletives) It took all my strength not to scream and wake up the entire house. My husband, who had been watching TV and keeping me company, held me while I had a good cry. I was heartbroken that I would just have to pick up a store-bought cake in the morning and add some decoration to it.
But really… What harm would that do the birthday girl? What harm would that do any of the party guests? None!
The party was a hit! There was a ton of food, There was coloring, puzzles, stickers, and pin-the-tail on the dinosaur, and of course the cake. The thing that occupied the majority of the birthday girl’s and her friends’ attention was a cool activity with baking soda and vinegar. Adult guests complimented the food, activities, and decorations, but really, if I had only provided a cake and that one activity, the birthday girl and her friends would have been just as happy. All of this is to say, I got a hard lesson in KEEP IT SIMPLE. I tried to go above and beyond with fluff and stuff, but the thing I cared most about came crashing down on me… or really on four paws and a tail.
Christ sent out his disciples with the assurance that their needs would be met, everything would be fine, and if it wasn’t, to just move on. I love how this translation specifies You are the equipment… As fun as it can be to go above and beyond with fluff and other stuff, in the end, we get distracted by such things and forget who we are actually doing something for. More often than not we can simplify an event or a program down to the basics of spending time with someone, feeding someone, or even just hearing someone. If we can simply allow ourselves to be the equipment, much like Christ’s disciples, we may find ourselves doing more of the Lord’s work than we thought possible.
Keep it Simple. You are the equipment.
by Ashley Bowler
For Pondering and Prayer
When we get wrapped up in perfection, keeping up appearances, or fluff and stuff, who are we serving?
Are there facets of your life that could be simplified, taking away the fluff and allowing just yourself to be the equipment?
How can you be the equipment in spreading the love of Christ?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the trust you’ve given us to do Your work in the world. Thank you for the trust You put in us as tools for spreading Your love to anyone who needs it. As distractible creatures, it’s easy for us to get wrapped up in adding so many extras to accomplish a goal when our presence can accomplish miracles. As we journey through this Lenten season, guide us toward simplicity and service in Your Name. Amen.
