Current topic: Pray with Us for Struggling Christians and Persecuted Church. Remember you can still pray for Families and the Church.
Good morning.
Had Jesus to come today for the first time, how would you follow Him? As you read this study consider your own geographical area, circle of influence, circumstances etc. and try doing some self-examination.
Jesus’ disciples had very distinct personalities and Jesus used them accordingly. Judas, who was the team’s treasurer, was obviously good with finances, maybe a little too good for he allowed money (Mammon) to take control of his life. He seemed to have been more concerned about money than about people. When Mary anointed Jesus with the expensive perfume “Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages’. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it,” (John 12:4-6). I’ve often tried to understand why Jesus called him. I knew the prophecy of Jesus’ betrayal had to be fulfilled, but also realised that he was a type of many disciples to follow and a warning to us all.
Philip was just available. Wherever the Lord needed him, he would go. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch...” (Acts 8:26). He didn’t have a clue what was next – he just obeyed. We read that he led this important man to the Lord and baptised him, and by that spread the gospel to Ethiopia. Then... “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away...” and next he... “appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea,” (V39, 40).
James was the direct one. He didn’t beat about the bush, but called a spade a spade. I love reading his epistle. I can just imagine how popular he was among his fellow disciples, for he probably would have been the one telling them off and exposing their attitudes.
Then we have the disciple whom Jesus loved, John. Interesting enough John wrote these words: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him,” (Jon 14:21). It’s very obvious in John’s writings (his gospel, letters and Revelation) that John’s relationship with Jesus was on a deeper level. Where the other gospels are accounts of what Jesus did, his is more a revelation of who Jesus is and his letters are loaded with love messages. He certainly had a deep understanding of Jesus, which, based on the passage from John 14:21, would be because Jesus revealed Himself to John due to his love for the Lord.
Peter was the impulsive one who followed Jesus without thinking. He was the representation of faith. He just did and said what came to mind and it all spoke of tremendous loyalty to his Master, whom he so much liked to please. When Jesus asked “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” he had the faith to blurt out the revelation: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (Matthew 16:13-20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:13-20&version=NIV1984), which became the rock on which Jesus build His church.
Where do you fit in? What is in your personality that the Lord can use to build His Kingdom? These were ordinary men with different personalities, but they had one thing in common – they were excited about Jesus and wanted to build on the rock – Christ, the Son of the Living God.
How about you?
Lord, please use me as who I am?
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
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