A Devotional by Dr. Dan Ivins

“Traveling Light”
(Mark 6:7-13)

Experience is the best teacher, which may be why Jesus sent his followers out to minister in his name. Believing in their potential is only half a loaf. There comes a time when their own performance must be realized. “Get out there and do it,” he said.

What strikes me about it is how lightly they traveled. “Take...a staff, no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts, but wear sandals and only one tunic...” Mark 6:8-9). Reminds me how we Americans have too much stuff. We eat too much, buy too much, own too much and expect too much. We need basements to keep the stuff, way more than we need. Then we have to protect our stuff.

Every summer I take a trip on my motorbike up to the mountains. It forces me to experience this text for myself. You can just carry so much on a motorbike. Rain gear, warm jacket, sun glasses, sun block, gloves, maybe room for a change of clothes.

It is good, in light of all we possess, to travel light now and then. It doesn’t take much essentials to do what God asks us to do. And best of all, it makes us rely on God more than we otherwise would. For we don’t have so much stuff at our disposal, upon which we have come to depend.

Could all the things we possess create an independence from God? All I know is, traveling light makes us dependent upon God, which is how it ought to be.

“Prayer for the Day” Lord, remind us that we depend upon you for everything. And you depend upon us to fulfill your mission. Let us not forget that you will provide us with all we need to pull it off.