He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. (Luke 9:3,4 The Message)
Fear Not… Then Be the Equipment
Some jobs have necessary tools. Dentists need drills. Farmers need dirt. Teachers need books. Cooks need ingredients.
As Jesus sends His closest disciples out into the countryside to bring the Good News, He tells them to make sure they have the right equipment. But Jesus does not tell them to bring tracts. He does not load their minds up with memorized arguments. He does not point them towards 78-inch televisions, power-point presentations, audio and light shows, or auditorium-filling strategies.
Because Jesus knows, that as useful as those things might be… the gospel is brought by people.
Nothing brings Jesus’ hope to the hopeless like YOU describing your hope. Nothing brings a humble response to Jesus’ power like YOU bowing publicly before King Jesus. Nothing brings Jesus’ light into dark corners like YOU shining in the midst of worry, fear, sin, and violence. Nothing brings God’s love to the unlovely like YOU loving extravagantly.
Do you have hope? Then preach the gospel by showing it. Do you have contentment in Christ? Then preach the gospel by showing it. Do you have love from and for Jesus? Then preach the gospel by showing it.
Anything else is fluff.
Fear not, then be the equipment.