Daily Devotion, November 17, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 9:1-6.

Young Simba, in Disney’s Lion King sings, “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” The lyrics indicate that Simba wants to be the king so that no one can tell him what to do and he can tell everyone else what to do! Sometimes this is the world’s perspective of a kingly life.

In Luke 9, Jesus is sending his disciples out on a mission for his kingdom, one very different from kingdoms of the world. He is sending them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Jesus is sending them out into a walk of faith totally dependent on God’s care for them. He is sending them out without any of the “trappings” of the ways of a worldly kingdom. They are embarking on this journey to preach the kingdom and to heal the sick without…without a staff, a bag, bread, money or an extra tunic. Talk about traveling lightly!!!

What they are traveling with is the power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases and with the message of good news that Jesus is the Messiah and the kingdom of God has come near to them.

Jesus is sending his disciples into the world with the same divine purpose he had declared in the temple when he read from the scroll of Isaiah. Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

  

Jesus’ way of leadership was identifying with people who often have to live “without”. When one has to live “without”, the testimony is more often that they “live by faith” and not by sight. Thus, Jesus is also sending the disciples out into the world to “live by faith.” They are sent without the trappings of royalty to enable them to understand the life experiences of others and to truly bring them the good news of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, send us out into the world with understanding hearts, totally relying on You. Let our message be the good news of Christ and the freedom he offers for all. Amen.