Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
People of God : Ambassadors of Christ
Mark 6: 7-13
Mark 6: 7-13
v7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
Today's text deals with the basic qualifications of Christ disciple. Jesus sends out the disciples as a delegate or as an ambassador. What are the parameters required for the sent. There are three basic qualifications to the disciples.
1. Simplicity
To a disciple of Christ is denied the inevitable precautions before undertaking a journey. Less luggage and more comfort is a guide line for a traveler . Once a Guru said " I have a habit of receiving another cloth only when the one I wear is not usable any longer. Today I needed a meal , I got it and that is enough". Again the old man said " Whatever you give to others is your saving. What remains with you is disease, fear and enemy". It is not what you need to live a luxurious life. The question is how you can manage to live without much possessions. Socrates and Sadhu Sunder Singh showed that way. The disciple of Jesus too should learn to live without much less luggage , more comfort.
2 . Total Faith
The second requirement a disciple needs is unconditional faith. Only those who have total reliance on God can get on without any reserved wealth. Those who rely on their on ability are bound to be helpless. God has provided for you. You have to believe it. To find out God's providence for you, you have to forego your precautious measures. In Mark 6: 8, we read, " take nothing for the journey - no staff , no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts". In the Bible you can come across so many saints and believers who depended on God only. What about tomorrow ? A true believer has no such questions. God will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy. Our ancestor's faith can be summarized in one sentence " God will provide". This type of faith is needed.
3 . Liberal attitude
The bag mentioned in the Gospel is of two types. (a) The kind of bag used by travelers. (b) Collection bag. You must have seen some people going from door to door, collecting money for pilgrim centers, churches and for God even. In our country there are so many holy places, holy shrines of saints. Some people go to these places after collecting money from houses. They are always a reality. In Jesus' time too there were such people. They were called " Pious robbers". A disciple of Jesus does not amass wealth in the name of God. He is the one who loses. His story is a story of loss - loss of property, loss of money, loss of estate and loss of materials. It is not what we gained materially but what we have given. The victor is the loser.
Those who forego momentary pleasures increase their heavenly treasure. The discipleship that Jesus promises us is not one of unrest. It is one of 'Santhi' - peace. Let us evaluate our lives and we need to trust God and oblige Him alone. Here I quote, David Livingstone's beautiful prayer : " Lord , send me anywhere, Only go with me ;Lay any burden on me , Only sustain me. Sever any tie, Save the tie that binds me to thy heart- Lord Jesus, my King, I consecrate my life, Lord, to Thee"
1. Simplicity
To a disciple of Christ is denied the inevitable precautions before undertaking a journey. Less luggage and more comfort is a guide line for a traveler . Once a Guru said " I have a habit of receiving another cloth only when the one I wear is not usable any longer. Today I needed a meal , I got it and that is enough". Again the old man said " Whatever you give to others is your saving. What remains with you is disease, fear and enemy". It is not what you need to live a luxurious life. The question is how you can manage to live without much possessions. Socrates and Sadhu Sunder Singh showed that way. The disciple of Jesus too should learn to live without much less luggage , more comfort.
2 . Total Faith
The second requirement a disciple needs is unconditional faith. Only those who have total reliance on God can get on without any reserved wealth. Those who rely on their on ability are bound to be helpless. God has provided for you. You have to believe it. To find out God's providence for you, you have to forego your precautious measures. In Mark 6: 8, we read, " take nothing for the journey - no staff , no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts". In the Bible you can come across so many saints and believers who depended on God only. What about tomorrow ? A true believer has no such questions. God will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy. Our ancestor's faith can be summarized in one sentence " God will provide". This type of faith is needed.
3 . Liberal attitude
The bag mentioned in the Gospel is of two types. (a) The kind of bag used by travelers. (b) Collection bag. You must have seen some people going from door to door, collecting money for pilgrim centers, churches and for God even. In our country there are so many holy places, holy shrines of saints. Some people go to these places after collecting money from houses. They are always a reality. In Jesus' time too there were such people. They were called " Pious robbers". A disciple of Jesus does not amass wealth in the name of God. He is the one who loses. His story is a story of loss - loss of property, loss of money, loss of estate and loss of materials. It is not what we gained materially but what we have given. The victor is the loser.
Those who forego momentary pleasures increase their heavenly treasure. The discipleship that Jesus promises us is not one of unrest. It is one of 'Santhi' - peace. Let us evaluate our lives and we need to trust God and oblige Him alone. Here I quote, David Livingstone's beautiful prayer : " Lord , send me anywhere, Only go with me ;Lay any burden on me , Only sustain me. Sever any tie, Save the tie that binds me to thy heart- Lord Jesus, my King, I consecrate my life, Lord, to Thee"
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, give us willingness and ability to be true to our call and to follow a life style fitting to the task we are in. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The challenge before Christ's disciples are to answer the question- How can the being of the disciples be strengthen in relation to its doing ?
Rev. Thomas Yeshudasan
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Heavenly Father, give us willingness and ability to be true to our call and to follow a life style fitting to the task we are in. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The challenge before Christ's disciples are to answer the question- How can the being of the disciples be strengthen in relation to its doing ?
Rev. Thomas Yeshudasan
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church