Today's Reading: Mark 3: 7-19
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Mark 3: 7-19
Bible Study
This few verses are very important because it leads us to see what Jesus was going to do according to the prophesies of many prophets - a restoration of God's kingdom. People were thinking of the glorious kingdom of David. So, after quite some time of healing people, driving out demons and preaching the Gospel, it was time for Jesus to go to the next level. He appointed twelve apostles representing the twelve tribes of Israelites. Actually ten of the twelve tribes had been lost seven centuries earlier when the Assyrians invaded and carried them off. The appointing of Jesus twelve apostles signifies not only a great healing mission, or a time of spiritual renewal. This is the restoration that all the Israelites had been waiting for centuries.
The meaning of the word "Apostle" means "messenger" or "sent one". In verses 14 to 15 there are three things that an apostle needs to have:
1. Always be with Jesus.
2. Willing to be sent out to preach the Gospel.
3. Have the authority to drive out demons.
Jesus appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
Mark 3: 14-15
How does the appointing of Jesus' twelve apostles means to you?
Have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to God as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
My Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: How can you become one of Jesus' apostles?
Speaking as in the tradition of the Church, apostles are those bishops who are appointed as overseer to churches. In a broader sense, all of us needs to model our lives according to an apostle because the meaning of an apostle is messenger or sent out. Are we not messenger for Christ? Are we not called by the Lord to prepare ourselves to be sent out by Him to do His Kingdom work?
So, today may be a good time to think of those three requirements as an apostle. Actually the primary call of a disciple is to "be with" Jesus that we can develop a close personal relationship with him. Out of a deep relationship with Jesus comes the power and sensitivity to effectively serve and minister for him that include to be willing to be sent out to preach the Gospel and have the authority from Jesus to drive out demons.
How well are you prepared?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Chinese praise song - 祢讓我生命改變 You Transform My Life
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