We went to Estes Park last week as we often do in March – but, truth be told, next March, it might be Arizona! Temps were below freezing the first few days, and we arrived in snow. Anyway, it’s always nice to be in the mountains, and on Friday we decided to take an “easy” hike around Sprague Lake, near where we were staying. It’s only a mile, perfectly flat, gorgeous mountain views, what could go wrong?

We didn’t know that over half the trail was still snow-covered! Well over a foot in some places.

No problem, we have snowshoes and poles, right? Well, yes and no. The poles were in the cabin. After all, who needs poles on a flat hike? The snowshoes were in the car, and we didn’t go back for them.

We were equipped…but not equipped. Equipment doesn’t do any good if you don’t use it! Robert Lewis wrote in The Church of Irresistible Influence, that his members were asking, “Equipped for what?” That’s when they decided to be more active in the community.  

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry… (Ephesians 4.11, 12, ESV, emphasis mine)

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13.20, 21, ESV, emphasis mine)

God uses [the Word] to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3.17, NLT, emphasis mine)