Today's Bible reading is the 9th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209&version=NASB

In today's passage we see Jesus sending His twelve apostles out into ministry, Herod "trying to see Him", the feeding of the five thousand, Peter's proclamation that Jesus was "the Christ of God", the transfiguration, the discussion amongst the twelve regarding which of them would be greatest and the expectations accompanying discipleship. The chapter is full of topics that volumes have been written about. My quick thought from the passage is from the instructions given by Jesus to His disciples when He sent them out "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing". In verses three through five we read His words, "Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." As I consider this "take nothing for your journey" passage, I could not help but think that by telling them what they were not to take the Lord was telling them what to take plenty of. Faith! It was faith that they needed most. Faith to believe God. To trust in His calling them and in His provisions for them. May we not tempt God with foolish and unwise actions and decisions, but may we seek Him first and trust in His gracious provisions for all that He has called us to.