Mark 6:7-13 Training for Mission
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: January 27, 2018, Mark 6:7-13
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
He called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick—no bread, no traveling bag, nothing in their moneybag. They could wear sandals but not take along an extra shirt. He told them repeatedly, “Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you leave that place. If any place will not welcome you and the people refuse to listen to you, when you leave, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went and preached that people should repent. They also kept driving out many demons and anointing with oil many who were sick, and healing them.
(Understanding the Text) We think of Pentecost as the time when the disciples received power, but they had power before that time. This is the occasion where they received the power to heal and cast out demons. It says here that Jesus gave them power. Was their power to heal through Jesus’ divinity or the Spirit coming upon them? What was the difference between before and after Pentecost?
This was a special ceremony just between the twelve and Jesus. Did Jesus lay hands on them or anoint them or simply say here’s your power? I lean toward one of the first two because of the disciples’ actions in Acts. They had to learn to lay on hands and to anoint with oil from somewhere. I’m betting it was Jesus who taught them.
I can picture Jesus calling the twelve to Him and telling them to listen carefully. I can se the twelve looking at each other and asking if the other knew what was going on. Then, they heard Jesus tell them that He was going to send them out to travel around healing and casting out demons. I can see a sort of worried look on a few faces. Then, Jesus does something that gives each one power. I see Him going to each one and touching him and blessing him and telling him that he now had power. I can imagine Him giving them instructions and then watching as they all prepared themselves in the way that He said to. It says that he told them repeatedly. Does that mean that some of them were not listening and trying to take things they shouldn’t? Or did some of them worry and ask what to do again? Or did He just keep repeating the instructions as He went from one small group to another so that they would not forget? Anyway, Jesus told them the instructions multiple times.
I wonder if having nothing in his moneybag hurt Judas. Did he cheat? Was he stressed out about it? This was a chance for him to learn not to focus on money, but the satisfaction of helping others. Jesus was preparing all of them for their later mission. He was letting them learn the wonder of helping those who needed help and depending only on God for providence instead of their own preparations. He was teaching them how to travel without money and stuff. He was showing them that not only was it possible to travel and serve God with nothing to support them, but also that they could be successful in serving God this way.
Their message was to repent, to turn away from sin and follow God. They also healed the sick by anointing them with oil and cast out demons. They must have found hospitality with some people. I wonder what they thought as they traveled on the road together to the next villages. Did the partners talk about Jesus? Did they speculate on what they were going to be doing? Did they just walk silently side-by-side? I wonder who was partnered together? I think Peter and John were partnered. They always seem to be together. Jesus was fostering togetherness among His disciples when He sent them out with a partner to do a job. Did they go places as partners after the resurrection? Who was Judas’ partner? I wonder if it was James? I think I could get a hint of who partnered by looking at who is seen together a lot in the scriptures, but that can wait until another time.
(Revelation of God) Jesus was preparing a group of people to represent Him to the world. God is a delegator. He gives us jobs that He could do Himself. He wants to work with us as a team rather than alone. God does not send people out unprepared even when it looks like they are unprepared. He wants us to understand that the only preparation that we need is Him with us. With the Spirit traveling with us, we do not need to take material things. They will provided, as needed. We can do without them, if necessary, but we cannot do without God. He is trying to teach us this lesson. He is patient in helping us to learn and relearn and relearn this lesson. Without Him, there is no hope. With Him, there is no unfulfilled need.
(Application) Jesus tells us that people will refuse to listen. This is not to discourage us. We are to shake the dust off. It was sort of a symbol against the town, but I also think it was a way for the disciples to let go of any negative feelings and go on to the next objective. The very act of doing it would have a releasing effect upon a person. Satan tries to catch us with negative emotions from our failures. Maybe I should shake the dust off a little more.
(Prayer) Teach me to shake off the dust of apparent failure and to trust You to provide for me. Help me to remember that my security is in You, not in money or a house or a job or stuff. Reassure me that I am going forth to serve Your purposes and not simply spinning my wheels in senseless busywork.