December 15, 2014 (Monday)
In the first chapter of Mark’s gospel, we are told that Jesus chose twelve men to learn from Him and to be sent out to others to share the good news that the Messiah has come. Even though two thousand years has passed since then, His disciples are still being called for the same purposes. Are you a disciple of Christ?
If your discipleship is patterned after that of the first disciples, then you, like them, have been accepted by the Lord just as you are. Like them, you are willing to learn from Jesus. Also like them, you are willing to tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ and His power to save everyone who believes in Him.
As His disciples, you are special to the Lord. Each of the early disciples was unique, even each of the six men who constituted three pairs of brothers: Peter (gregarious) and Andrew (man of faith), James (later died for Jesus) and John (called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”), and James the son of Alpheus and Thaddeus (little known about them). The twelve were from different walks of life (for example, Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans, while Simon was a Zealot who longed for revolution against the Romans).
They were unique in temperament: Thomas seemed to be melancholy, Simon the Zealot emotional, Philip and Nathanael quiet men. And one (Judas) who turned sour even though he was one of the chosen twelve.
In many ways the makeup of the first disciples is a microcosm of the church: unity in Christ yet diversity in personality. We should celebrate diversity, not deny it or forbid it. An illustration of God’s love for diversity can be seen in spring wildflowers: side by side different shapes and colors. How we need to thank the Lord for others and their unique gifts and talents, even though we may be totally different from them.
Once the Lord had ascended to Heaven and the Holy Spirit came upon these men in power, they sought and found unity in Christ. As the hymn says, “Like a mighty army moves the church of God.”
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
We can celebrate the uniqueness of each brother and sister in Christ, yet join hands and hearts in the Lord’s mighty undertaking to let the world know about Jesus and His power to make all things new.
