Are You Called?

N.T.#107 "Are You Called?"

July 10, 2023

Matthew 10

LET IT GLOW

If we skip to verses 2-4, we read the names of the apostles Jesus equipped and sent out with the Gospel. 

Apostles means a delegate; an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commission of Christ (with miraculous powers; messenger; he that is sent.

The 12 apostles are named in groups of 4:

1. Simon Peter (out spoken) and brother Andrew; James and brother John, sons of Zebedee or Thunder;(verse 2)
2. Philip and Bartholomew, (the 6 were blue-collar workers, fishermen), skeptical Thomas and Matthew the publican/tax collector; (verse 3)
3. James, the son of Alphaeus, Lebbaeus (Thaddaeus) (verse 3b), Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot,(the betrayer).(verse 4)

This list is also found in Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, and Acts 1:13. Those 12 men were just ordinary men without a place of prominence in the Synagogue or Levitical priesthood. They were common laboring men without professional training, not wealthy, no academic degrees in arts or philosophies, but ragged aggregation souls. (Robert Coleman)

Those men had human faults and failings that characterize all our lives. They were selected not because of what they were, but because of what they were to become by God's empowering grace. They were no different from you and me. (Swindoll)

God can use the ordinary for extraordinary purposes. The apostles were by Jesus' side throughout His earthly ministry, always watching, frequently learning, occasionally responding. Their training remained at the forefront of Jesus' agenda.  

LET IT GROW

Those disciples (learner, pupil) were Jesus' handpicked ministry team. He sent them out with specific instructions regarding what they could expect and how to accomplish their mission. Jesus supernaturally equipped those men.

And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (verse 1)

Jesus did not draft them, force them, ask for volunteers, nor twist their arms, but He chose them to serve Him in a special way. So it is with us-we can choose to join Jesus or remain behind. Hopefully, we will choose to follow Jesus. Then we can experience Him working in our lives and those around us.

LET IT GO 

Use us for Your kingdom work, Jesus.

May we honor You and lift You up.

You are our God, whome we love.