August 11
Traveling Light
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ––Mark 6:6-9, ESV
I marvel at folks who travel the country in their recreational buses. I made the mistake recently of asking one such friend, “So how long is your RV?” He quickly corrected me: “It’s actually a bus, not an RV.” My mistake. But man, some of these rigs are impressive, right? And I get the appeal, especially for retired folks who want to get out there and see the world. It’s a great lifestyle, or so I am told. It’s insane the variety of transportation vehicles we have at our disposal, and how we take travel for granted.
Jesus, on the other hand, lived in a radically different time in a very different world. While Rome had sophisticated forms of transportation—ships, carriages, and a sophisticated network of roads and aqueducts connecting the cities within its empire—Jesus and His disciples relied mostly on their feet for transportation. Jesus never ventured more than 150 miles from Bethlehem, and never wrote a single book Himself. He always traveled light, rarely rode a beast of burden, and typically relied on the income of his disciples or upon charity to fund His ministry. He never charged for his speaking. He didn’t take honorariums. He had women benefactors as well, including “Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means” (Luke 8:2-3).
Interestingly, Jesus rarely told anyone to carry anything. When he sent the disciples out in pairs, he didn’t even want them to bring a change of clothes. And later, at the Last Supper, he tells them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36). This was preparation for the persecution to come (both figuratively and literally).
Man of God, when we drop our baggage to follow Jesus, we will want for nothing. I’m not talking about a nice house and car; I’m talking about the tools we need to fulfill His purpose for us. Whether you are wealthy or of modest means, C-level executive or blue collar worker, it all comes down to the same thing: Are you able to drop your baggage—whatever controls you and captures your fleshy heart—to be a true disciple?
What does that look like? Whatever Jesus decides it should look like. For some it will mean great sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure. For others it may mean relinquishing control of specific, personally curated dreams—dying to them so that He can give You the calling He has designed for you. Tough stuff.
It’s spiritual adulting time, men. In His Kingdom army, there’s no room for boys obsessed with their transient toys; not when there’s so much work to be done. Check your spiritual bag—now toss every item that looks or smells like selfish ambition or fixation and arm yourselves for battle. Travel light, fight hard, and live for Your King.
Father, I kneel before you, my baggage laid before Your throne, and ask You to activate me into Your spiritual army. Use me for Your glory.