Skiing Without Poles

"Don’t even take along a walking stick,” he instructed them, “nor a beggar’s bag, nor food, nor money. Not even an extra coat."  Luke 9:3

Have you ever been snow skiing and noticed the little kids zhuzhing past you with no poles?  They weave in and out, darting past at break-neck speed, completely unafraid, and I've yet to see one of the little rascals wipeout, either. 

When I see them, just the thought of letting go of my poles leaves me feeling helpless, fragile.  But when you think about it, that kind of reaction is really like calling for help when the escalator stops.  You already have everything you need to get around.  The poles are just a security blanket.  They don't really do much more than that.

I find it to be so much like our life with Jesus.  Don't you?

We struggle awkwardly, needlessly, trying to do things on our own when all we ever need to do is lean on our Savior completely--trusting that He will and has made the path straight for us.

In the passage of Scripture above, Jesus gathered the twelve disciples together, gave them power and authority, and sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.  There was no need to take anything else.  He had already given them everything they needed for the journey.

You have everything you need for the journey, too.

Jesus is all we need.

Maybe that's why He told us in Matthew 18:3, "Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."

We don't need televisions, iPhones, social media, fancy clothes, the greatest car, the latest music, or anything else this old world has to offer us--not even ski poles.  

All we need is Him.

Goodnight, Runners.