February 28th, 2025
Friday, February 28th
Traveling Essentials
Pastor Todd Crofford
I am a planner- big time. When I take trips- especially long ones- I make a list of all I need to bring. My stomach churns as I imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus told them he was sending them on a long-term mission, but not to worry about money, food, clothes or even a traveling bag. I would have felt so ill-prepared!
Except look at what he DID send them with. It says, “Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority…” (Luke 9:1 GW) Talk about essentials for the mission!
What is God calling you to do that is brave? What you need most is not the finest training, the best funding or even the most brilliant advanced plan. What’s most essential is his power and authority. When we are deeply reliant on God for the unseen things, he will take care of the things we can see.
Planning, training and funding are great, but the things God is going to do through you are deeply rooted in your dependence on him and your confidence that the Holy Spirit will empower you when you need it most. So go be brave for Jesus!
Luke 9:1-17
GOD’S WORD Translation
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
9 Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over every demon and power and authority to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to spread the message about God’s kingdom and to cure the sick.
3 He told them, “Don’t take anything along on the trip. Don’t take a walking stick, traveling bag, any food, money, or a change of clothes. 4 When you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave. 5 If people don’t welcome you, leave that city, and shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
6 The apostles went from village to village, told the Good News, and cured the sick everywhere.
Rumors about Jesus
7 Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn’t know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life. 8 Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life.
9 Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. Who is this person I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod wanted to see Jesus.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
10 The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him to a city called Bethsaida so that they could be alone. 11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about God’s kingdom, and cured those who were sick.
12 Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, “Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here.”
13 Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that’s all we have.” 14 (There were about five thousand men.)
Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit in groups of about fifty.” 15 So they did this.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd. 17 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.
Traveling Essentials
Pastor Todd Crofford
I am a planner- big time. When I take trips- especially long ones- I make a list of all I need to bring. My stomach churns as I imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus told them he was sending them on a long-term mission, but not to worry about money, food, clothes or even a traveling bag. I would have felt so ill-prepared!
Except look at what he DID send them with. It says, “Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority…” (Luke 9:1 GW) Talk about essentials for the mission!
What is God calling you to do that is brave? What you need most is not the finest training, the best funding or even the most brilliant advanced plan. What’s most essential is his power and authority. When we are deeply reliant on God for the unseen things, he will take care of the things we can see.
Planning, training and funding are great, but the things God is going to do through you are deeply rooted in your dependence on him and your confidence that the Holy Spirit will empower you when you need it most. So go be brave for Jesus!
Luke 9:1-17
GOD’S WORD Translation
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
9 Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over every demon and power and authority to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to spread the message about God’s kingdom and to cure the sick.
3 He told them, “Don’t take anything along on the trip. Don’t take a walking stick, traveling bag, any food, money, or a change of clothes. 4 When you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave. 5 If people don’t welcome you, leave that city, and shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
6 The apostles went from village to village, told the Good News, and cured the sick everywhere.
Rumors about Jesus
7 Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn’t know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life. 8 Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life.
9 Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. Who is this person I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod wanted to see Jesus.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
10 The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him to a city called Bethsaida so that they could be alone. 11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about God’s kingdom, and cured those who were sick.
12 Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, “Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here.”
13 Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that’s all we have.” 14 (There were about five thousand men.)
Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit in groups of about fifty.” 15 So they did this.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd. 17 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.
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