Don't Bring Anything

Anyone who knows me knows that I tend to be, in a group, the "mom." I don't pack for just myself, but for the entire group and their potential needs. In other words, I come prepared.

Luke 9:3: "And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece." 

It is hard for me to imagine my Lord Jesus saying this to me and my immediate response not sounding something like, "Uh, Jesus, are You crazy? How on earth am I supposed to go on a journey with absolutely nothing? I need my snacks and my pillow, my own water and a second jacket, just incase in rains."

And yet He says in Luke 10:4: "Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way."

This was the topic of the sermon on Sunday and I've been chewing on it since then. The title of that sermon was "Is God My Supplier?" And I must be completely honest and say that I have not taken Him seriously in this. Why is that when I read a story from the Bible, I know it to be true, and yet when I am faced with a minor inconvenience in my life, I question whether or not God is with me, providing for my every need? O Lord, help thou my unbelief!

Luke 22:35: "And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Noting."

Did you read that? They said they lacked nothing. Even with Jesus telling them to not take anything with them for their journey, they still lacked not. 

Wow. 

I sat there in church and read over that passage again and again: "And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing." (emphasis added)

Lord, where is my faith? Where is my trust in You for every little thing? 

If I was preparing for a long journey, and He whispered to my heart to put all that I packed away, and take nothing, not even funds for the way, with me, how would I respond? Would the words of Philippians 4:12 be the first upon my lips? "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." 

Like many Christians, Psalm 23 is precious to me. In my every day Bible reading, I use the King James Version, however, with this Psalm, and in verse 1, I absolutely love how the Youngs Literal Translation translates it: "Jehovah [is[ my shepherd, I do not lack." 

How comforting is that very promise? With Jehovah, my shepherd, I do not lack. Ah the wondrous thought! 

So, even though I like to be prepared, I must condition my heart. Lord, make me pliable in Thy hands!

"1 Timothy 6:8: "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 

Can I do without?