Have you ever read Luke 9:1-3 in the Message Bible? “Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment.”
In this short portion of scripture, we discover that Jesus empowered His disciples to carry out God’s mission. It is the same with you today. You are the one God has empowered for His handiwork. His work is personal! His work is powerful! His work is filled with eternal potential!
The Spirit of God within me is drawing my attention to those three underlined phases; personal, powerful, and eternal potential. These are three core values you and I must actualize as we live out our commission to preach the news of God’s kingdom.
First, consider the fact that God’s call and empowering is personal. The end of the Luke 9:3 says it so perfectly, “Keep it simple; you are the equipment.” You and I have remarkable tools available to us to spread the Gospel. Consider the technology available to us today. Yet, the technology is merely a conduit. As I spoke with a group of pastors yesterday, I was reminded that there is one thing which can never be taken away from you; your story of how God has transformed your life. PERSONAL – There is no more power message or tool than your own transformed life!
Second, consider the obvious that God’s handiwork is powerful. YOU are empowered by God! It is His power that is now alive and active within you. To apply Paul’s words here consider that, “it is no longer you who lives, but Christ lives in you” and “the same Spirit which raised Christ from the dead is now living in you.” Your personal engagement with those around you is the power to challenge and change their lives and circumstances.
Third, consider that as you personally engage in people’s lives with the powerful example of your transformed life you are bringing to them an eternal potential to experience God in their own lives.
YOU are empowered by God! You are the equipment! Your transformed life is the most powerful message or tool available!
Rev. Gary R. Linn