(Amos 7:12-15; Ps.85:8-14; Eph.1:3-14; Mk.6:7-13) "Justice shall walk before Him, and prepare the way of His steps." And so when the disciples are sent out, the Lord "instruct[s] them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick." The walking stick signifies that the carrier is on an itinerant mission, and the walking stick serves to support the traveler along his way. The walking stick is the cross of Christ, which does both these things and brings all the grace and guidance we need on our journey through life. The walking stick is prepared in justice, the justice of the blood of Christ, and so it brings all who take it up to the kingdom of God. The Father "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens," and so, what more do we need than His cross, since in it "we have redemption by His blood"? And now we are "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession," and thereby ready to walk the path He sets before us this day. The cross of contradiction going before us, we join the apostles who "went off and preached repentance." Amos, too, heeded this call to chastise the people for their sins. And for this he, too, suffered the cross, being commanded by the power of the world: "Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!" But still he continues to preach repentance, still he is faithful to the Lord's instruction to "prophesy to [His] people Israel." And so must all His apostles be. We need not fear the persecution upon us for "near indeed is [the Lord's] salvation to those who fear Him." To those who are faithful to His call, "the Lord Himself will give all His benefits." We have all we need "in accord with the riches of His grace that He lavished upon us," and we must only be "holy and without blemish before Him" – as is His desire – to find every blessing we require. And He will give us "authority over unclean spirits"; He will enable us to cast all evil from His sight. And so "to the praise of His glory" there will be "glory dwelling in our land." His justice walks now before us; let us go in the way of His steps. His cross is all we need for the journey. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Give Me Strength" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, we have every spiritual blessing in the heavens – what more do we need than the Cross of Christ? YHWH, you send forth your apostles and prophets to preach repentance, to proclaim salvation to those who turn to your Christ and wash themselves in the blood of His Cross. This is all we need to find your peace; this is all we need to make our way through this world. In the Cross let us take our refuge, and your Spirit will be with us. O let us be healed, dear LORD! that we might praise your holy NAME for the redemption upon us. Let us not turn away from those you send in Jesus' Name, but seek rather to walk in His steps with them. You look down from Heaven and send us your Son to be born amongst us and bring glory to this land… Let His kindness and truth meet in us that we too might know your benefits and be your treasured possession forever. What need we but the power of truth speaking in your Son – O LORD, drive out the demons from among us.