Monday: POWER AND AUTHORITY

Jun 20, 2022
2 min read

Lord, please show me how to depend on Your power and Your authority. When I rely on myself, I keep failing!

Luke 9:1-6

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

The first group of people Jesus impacted at the beginning of His ministry were twelve ordinary men. Jesus uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. One day, Jesus called them together and gave them the tools needed for a journey: Jesus gave them power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases.

Jesus desires us to use His power to proclaim the Kingdom of God. People flocked to the disciples to receive physical healing; not only were they healed physically, but they were transformed spiritually.

Jesus gave the disciples instructions that would keep them dependent on His provision: take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. They were to rely solely on His power to give and receive.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Our culture today promotes independence and tells me that I should learn to do things on my own, so I don’t need to depend on anyone else. Jesus shows that I must be dependent on Him if I want to serve Him.

On my journey, I shouldn’t take more, but less. I shouldn’t stay secluded inside my home, but instead see who He has called to open their home to me. People who desire to welcome the good news will welcome me.

Jesus states some will not want to hear the good news and will not welcome me. Jesus shows through the instructions to the disciples that I don’t need to stay and try to convince them; I need to move on to another house or village that will welcome me.

Lord, through Your goodness I find hope, peace, love, and kindness. Please work in my heart to give me courage and confidence to listen and obey Your will.

May you be blessed, Chaplain Wayne Ruckman