OzThoughts Thursday 5th February 2009

OzThoughts Thursday 5th February 2009

Forty years ago when my wife and I were preparing to enter the Salvation Army Officer Training College, our list of equipment included a metal trunk. I think the theory was that each Cadet would be able to contain all their possessions in that one trunk. In practice we had several trunks and many other boxes which contained all our goods.

It is interesting to notice in today’s reading the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples about what they were to take with them on the road when he sent them out.

Mark 6:7-13 (The Message)
7-8 Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:
8-9 "Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.
10 "And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.
11 "If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."
12-13 Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.
“Keep it simple” certainly applied to their possessions but I imagine this thought ruled their ministry as well. I can see Mark is reminding us that they simply got on with ministry. It was simply done and God gave them success.
PRAYER: (Using The Song Book as our Prayer Book):

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_567.mp3 ]

In the Army of Jesus we've taken our stand
To fight 'gainst the forces of sin,
To the rescue we go, Satan's power to o'erthrow,
And his captives to Jesus we'll win.

Chorus
I’ll stand for Christ alone
Amid the tempest and the storm.
Where Jesus leads I'll follow on;
I'll stand, I'll stand for Christ alone.

We go forth not to fight 'gainst the sinner, but sin;
The lost and the outcast we love;
And the claims of our King we before them will bring
As we urge them his mercy to prove.

Jesus pitied our case, and he died for our race,
To save a lost world he was slain;
But he rose and now lives, and his pardon he gives
Unto all who will call on his name.

Though our trials be great and God's enemies strong,
To battle undaunted we go,
For our warfare's the Lord's and to him we belong,
In his strength we shall conquer the foe.
Author: Frederick William Fry (1859-1939), alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 687

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