Verse of the Day - weekend 9/6

Through the Bible - Proverbs 9-12, 1 Corinthians 16- 2 Corinthians 1

 

Good morning,

We'll return to 1 Cornithians 1 with a few more verses early in the week but I thought we'd take a break today and go back to the book of Matthew where Jesus is calling His disciples.

 

Have you ever had to ask or challlenge a person or group of people to do something where you felt you had to meet them face to face, where an e-mail or phone call just wouldn't do?  Why is that? 

For starters it shows the importance of the matter, how personal the request is, and every one involved will get a better "read" on the situation.

 

John MacArthur writes that "when Jesus summoned His twelve disciples; He was making more than a casual request.  The word Matthew used is an intense term that means to call one to oneself in order to confront him face to face.  It is used of God's calling the Gentiles to Himself through the gospel (Acts 2:39) and of His calling His chosen men and entrusting them to proclaim the gospel. (Acts 13:2, 16:10).  The vocabulary implies that this summoning was connected to an official commissioning to the Lord's service."

 

Matt 10:1  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.   NKJV

He called them, He chose them and gave them the "power" to do His work, work that was for the benefit of others for God's glory.

 

MacArthur continues, "Behind Jesus' commissioning and training of the twelve disciples are several foundational facts.  First, these men were chosen sovereignly by God.  None of the twelve initiated the idea of following Jesus and becoming His disciples, much less His apostles.  It was entirely God's planning and doing.  Mark tells us that Jesus "summoned" those whom He Himself wanted (Mark 3:13), and near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus reminded them, "you did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you" (John 15:16).

 

These are recurring themes throughout the New Testament, that Jesus calls us and provides us with the tools, the "power" to serve Him.

 

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:   KJV

And every for everyone He calls He has a purpose.

 

Eph 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  NLT

 

Has Jesus called you?  Is He, has He been calling for you to have a "face to face" or "heart to heart" meeting regarding serving Him and ministering to others?

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
 http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Matt 10:1-9

 

The Twelve Harvest Hands

 

10 The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent:

 

Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock"),
Andrew, his brother,
James, Zebedee's son,
John, his brother,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax man,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Canaanite,
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).

 

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:

 

"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.   THE MESSAGE