Thursday 4th February, 2010
1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12. Lord, you are exalted over all. 1 Chronicles 29:10-12. Mark 6:7-13.

  
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He sent them out two by two.

Jesus prepared the disciples for their mission. He empowered them to preach, heal and exorcise. All teaching is a work of empowerment whereby the pupil acquires the skills of the instructor.

The difference between working for God’s kingdom and merely blindly pursuing a career becomes apparent in the motivation. Being career-driven is self-promoting; working for the kingdom is neighbour-oriented, something whereby one heals, helps, teaches. While careers aim at acquiring, kingdom work is first and last a service.

It was to stress this difference that the disciples were told to take nothing for the journey; their needs would be taken care of by God in whose service they toiled—and they would learn to trust his generosity.