PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 3:13-19
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Jesus called to him those He wanted.” (Mark 3:13)
Do you remember picking teams as a kid?
I never got to be the one picking, and was usually one of the last picked.
As captain, Jesus makes some odd picks, at least from a human viewpoint.
Peter the big mouth, James and John the ‘Sons of Thunder’, Thomas the doubter?
Judas the money-lover, Matthew the traitor, Simon the fanatical extremist?
These last two must have made Jesus’ journeys interesting.
Matthew was the kind of guy Simon the Zealot would want to kill.
As Jesus manages their differences, we get a sense of how the church works.
Often individual churches are made up of like-minded people (not always).
But imagine what it will be like when all christians stand together one day.
Yes, we can imagine it, because Jesus levels us all, humbles us all.
We’re all quirky misfits in a way, and yet Jesus wants us… Jesus picks me too.
I like Jesus’s team, there is room for everyone!
Now if only WE could start making room for everyone too.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see my church community as the people You have chosen to be on Your team with me.
“to be with him and to send them out to preach” – In order to be able to be able to do anything I have to be with him – especially if I am to be an apostle – to share the good news by what I do and say. But its not a series of steps – be with him first and then preach – but rather its at the same time – the training happens as I am doing! The disciples made mistakes and so do I. HS continue to work this out in me wherever I go.
Jesus choose His disciples – ordinary people fitted for Kingdom service. He choose those men not of what they were but what they would become in His name. Called to serve. Called and served they did, not questioning their ability. I must do the same without reservations or excuses on my ability.
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne