I have written before about how the Lord has always provided for me and my family, sometimes in unusual ways, during our journey as missionary church planters. (See Take No Staff for the Journey).
Jesus does that for His people. And it’s not just that He bails us out when we get into trouble. Often He leads us into
situations where we’re forced to trust Him, and to experience just how
dependable and kind and powerful He really is.
This was one of the first lessons
He taught the twelve apostles. When He sent them out, He said, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money;
and do not have two tunics" (Luke 9:3). By the way, the bag He referred to was
often used in those days by “holy men” to beg for money. Jesus was not only
telling them to take only the clothes on their backs, but also
not to beg.
Was Jesus trying to make it hard for
His apostles? Well, yes. He was demonstrating that He would provide for them,
that He could be trusted to take care of them even when there was no visible
means for doing so. A year and a half later, right before He went to the cross, He asked them, “When I sent you out
with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” Luke 22:35.
Not that Christ is against suitcases or pantries or savings accounts. His point is that we can, and must, depend upon Him. Sometimes
we may need to relearn that lesson. When we are tempted to put our trust in our abundance rather than in Him, He just might send us out for a while with no staff, or bag, or bread, or money.
But in those times, watch and pray with expectation. He will provide for His own. And one day your story of His generosity and provision will bring Him glory and point to Him as the only One
worth trusting. Not just for a staff or a bag or money, but for your whole
life.
