Calling and Sending

Calling and Sending
Words of Faith 11-8-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 3
[13] Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. [14] He appointed twelve‑‑designating them apostles‑‑that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach [15] and to have authority to drive out demons. [16] These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

It was time for Jesus to choose and send leaders. Luke tells us that Jesus prayed all night over the decision. Looking at His choices, some would say He should have prayed some more!
What a diverse group. Eleven were from the "North" and one from the "South." Four were fishermen, one was a tax collector and perhaps two were radical revolutionaries. Several had been fairly well off because of a family business, the Sons of Zebedee. One was quite rich, Levi. Philip was from Bethsaida, a Fishing town where Peter and Andrew were from, but his name means lover of horses. Bartholomew (or Nathanael) was from Cana, an in inland village, and likely would have been a carpenter, stone mason, or farmer.
Matthew, Thomas, and James (the less) were likely from very well-educated families. Matthew may have even trained to be a Rabbi. Given the diversity of this crowd, they probably did not even like each other! As time goes on, we will see that they continually misunderstood what the Kingdom of God was about and competed jealously for prominence.
Some were loud and others quiet. Some were large and others smaller. We get the idea that Peter could take care of himself and even carried a sword, at least near the end! James and John were called the "sons of thunder." The other James was probably small because "James the Lesser" can mean Little James. Some were very vocal, like Peter, while others seemed never to speak a word, like James the Lesser.
There were those whose faith was kindled easily. Andrew was probably the most earnest seeker, looking for the Messiah and ready to follow. But Bartholomew (or Nathanael) sat and watched from a distance, a slow seeker. We think of Thomas as "the doubter" but this was not a lack of faith. What he followed he was deadly serious about. When confronted with the possibility of danger, he said, "Let us go and die with him."
So where did we ever get the idea that all Christian leaders would look alike? Act alike? Talk alike? Or think alike? Jesus, by His prayerful choosing, made it another way. These Twelve had very different responses to Jesus, very different gifts and temperaments, and they did not always get along.
We should pause to consider the wonderful way that God works. Jesus meets us just where we are. Jesus calls us in just the way we need to hear Him. Jesus uses us in just the way He has planned. Jesus is still in the business of calling, appointing, equipping, and sending. Although the Twelve were unique in history the pattern of God's spirit and ministry continues on.
What is God calling you up to do? Who is God calling you to become? What is Jesus calling you to be? Where is Jesus calling you to go? God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).

Lord, give me the grace to understand those who are different from me. Give me the grace to receive leadership from those called by You who do not fit the mold. Most of all, let me hear the call You have upon my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.