Luke chapter 6 verses 12-13 (NIV)
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles…
Jesus spent the night praying to God before He called His disciples. There were others who followed Him who would have been hoping that they would be chosen. But each one chosen was called for a reason – even Judas. It was so important that Jesus took the time to find out God’s will on the matter. But the disciples chosen all had different roles. I’m sure that most of us could name some of them but I confess I could name nine of the disciples, and would have to apologise to James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot. We know very little about them as individuals. Yet they were commissioned and sent out with the others. We don’t know how the twelve were paired. They shared the journey with Jesus during His three years of ministry, and were commissioned to spread the Gospel after His ascension. They shared the triumphs and the trials with the others. And they heard Jesus tell them that the very hairs on their heads were numbered. So, does it matter that we know less about them than some of the others? It shouldn’t. I’m sure in today’s society some people would feel put out, overlooked, less important. Perhaps we do feel like that sometimes if we feel people don’t appreciate what we do. Perhaps we don’t get the recognition that we should. But is that really important? As Paul told the Galatian church, in Galatians Chapter 1: Verse 10 (NIV)
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Whose approval is it we are trying to win? If we claim to be followers of Jesus, people pleasing is not important, but pleasing God is. It doesn’t, or shouldn’t matter that we don’t have the ministry or calling we think we should have, we have the path to walk that we have been called to. God doesn’t make mistakes. And the good thing is that every hair on our head is numbered too. God knows us inside out.
Dear Lord,
I’m grateful that You have chosen the path that You know is the right one for me, so I shouldn’t treat it lightly, or wish that I had a different road to walk. The verses from today remind me that even Jesus consulted You before any decisions were made and therefore I should do no less if I want to stay on the right path. Help me to do so whether the decisions are big or small. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.