Are You Ready to Serve? Finding Your Qualification in Christ
Have you ever wondered if you're truly ready to serve God? Maybe you feel like you don't have it all figured out yet, or perhaps you're waiting until you're more spiritually mature. The story of Jesus sending out his twelve disciples in Mark 6:7-13 reveals some surprising truths about what qualifies us to serve and how God equips us for His mission.
When Jesus Sent Out Unprepared Disciples
Looking at the disciples' track record up to this point in Mark's Gospel, you might question Jesus' decision to send them out. These were the same men who struggled to understand Jesus' parables, who panicked during a storm despite having Jesus in their boat, and who couldn't envision how God might feed thousands of people. They wrestled with pride, doubt, and impulsiveness. Yet Jesus gave them the keys to ministry and sent them out to preach repentance.
This raises an important question: What made them ready when they seemed so unprepared?
Four Principles for Serving God
Our Qualification to Serve Is Found in Christ
The disciples' readiness wasn't based on their performance or complete understanding. Mark 6:7 simply states that Jesus "called the 12 and began to send them out two by two." Their qualification came from their relationship with Christ, not their achievements.
As 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 reminds us: "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant."
You don't need to have everything figured out to serve God. Your qualification comes from Christ's work in your life, not your own perfection.
Our Authority to Serve Comes from Christ
Jesus didn't just send the disciples out empty-handed. Mark 6:7 tells us "he gave them authority over unclean spirits." This authority wasn't about the spectacular signs themselves, but about validating the main message they were called to share: repentance.
The healing and demon-casting served three purposes:
- They validated the truth of the Gospel message being preached
- They enabled the main work by removing spiritual barriers
- They assured the disciples they were true ambassadors of Christ
Just as Jesus told his disciples in the Great Commission, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go..." (Matthew 28:18-19), we too serve with His authority backing us.
Our Ability to Serve Is from Christ
Jesus gave specific instructions: "Take nothing for their journey except a staff. No bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics" (Mark 6:8-9). This wasn't about poor planning or winging it. This was about dependence.
Later, when Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out with no money bag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" they answered, "Nothing" (Luke 22:35). Through this experience, they learned that Christ was their provider, protector, and sustainer.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't plan wisely. Scripture encourages planning. But it means our ultimate trust should be in God's provision, not just our preparations. We serve holding His hand, not just holding our stuff.
Our Identity as Servants Is in Christ
Jesus instructed them: "If any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them" (Mark 6:11). This wasn't about being callous toward rejection, but about not carrying the baggage of others' choices.
When we serve God and face rejection, we need to remember:
- Jesus wasn't surprised by rejection - He experienced it too
- Rejection of our message is ultimately rejection of Christ, not us
- We're not responsible for producing fruit in others' lives - that's the Holy Spirit's work
- Our identity comes from our relationship with Christ, not others' responses
Life Application
As you enter this new year, God is calling you to serve Him not because you've arrived spiritually, but because He has qualified you through Christ. Your challenge this week is to identify one way you can step out in faith to serve God, trusting in His qualification, authority, ability, and identity rather than your own.
Ask yourself these questions:
What has been holding me back from serving God more fully?
Am I waiting for perfect readiness, or am I willing to trust in Christ's sufficiency?
How can I practice greater dependence on God in my daily life?
When I face rejection or discouragement in serving, where do I find my identity?
Remember, God builds His kingdom through imperfect people who are willing to hold His hand and trust His provision. The disciples went out not because they had it all together, but because Christ did. The same is true for you today.