Today’s Reading: Mark 3:13-19; Psalm 25

Jesus touched so many lives as massive crowds formed around him in each town he visited. Yet with all the needs pressing in around him, his focus remained on his investment in the lives of twelve.

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. – Mark 3:13-19

The twelve Jesus appointed are often referred to as the twelve disciples or the apostles. According to the NLT Study Bible I am using, disciples were students and followers while apostles were specially commissioned representatives. I would argue that today we are all both disciples and apostles.

TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST IS TO BE A STUDENT OR A FOLLOWER.

God has called us all to be students of the Word, to sit at His feet regularly and learn from Him. We spend time reading the Bible and we walk away with new understanding. His word is living and active and we cannot help but be changed by studying the Scriptures. We have so much to learn and we have a Great Teacher who loves His students.

We also learn by listening to other students of the Word or disciples. What a great investment of our time to read a book written by another follower of Christ or to listen to the teachings of a great preacher! We listen and call on the Spirit to discern the truth of the message, allowing our hearts to grow and be transformed through the words God has given those He has called. When I question something I am reading, God’s word is the foundation of truth that I go back to each time.

Even pastors and preachers benefit from spending time listening to others and reading. This helps us find the humility God calls all of us to. We have not already arrived. We do not know all there is to know. We desperately need to keep learning in order to increase our understanding of God’s ways.

TO BE AN APOSTLE IS TO BE SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED TO REPRESENT JESUS & FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.

Hopefully we agree that we are all disciples or students of the Word, but I would argue that we are also all apostles. If the definition of apostle is a person who is specially commissioned to represent something or someone, then that is absolutely what we are. God has chosen every one of us for a specific purpose today. He has a plan and we have a choice. We can walk into that plan with the willingness to represent Jesus and fulfill His purpose for our day, or we can focus on our own desires and plans. I can build the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of me.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:35-38

Lord, this morning I pray that you would open up my heart and show me your purpose today. Confirm in my heart what you have called me to do. Remind me WHO I have been specially commissioned to represent. God, I open up my life with a willingness today to be used by you, whether in small ways or large. Today is about you and your plan. Teach me. Show me. Use me. Guide me. Amen.

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. – Psalm 25:1-10