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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 13, 2008 THE CALL IS TO BE BOTH |
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Frontline Devotion for Thursday, March 13, 2008 by Pastor
Dave Sonnenberg
Reprinted from March 28, 2003
"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[2] - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3: 13-15)
In our jobs, I'm sure that we have had the opportunity to be a learner as well as a leader. At times, we need instruction and other times we need to instruct others. Life is very much that way- we have many times in life where we are in a learning posture. But, learning usually has a purpose. It is to help us do things on our own or to help others.
In the text listed above, Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain. A disciple is one who learns from the master teacher. In this case, a large group of disciples (way more than 12) had been following Jesus, in order to learn from him - learn about things that they can change in their lives that will make life better. From that large group, Jesus picks 12 and names them apostle - one sent out by the master teacher with a purpose or a job. Perhaps those 12 were good learners. Perhaps they had unique gifts. We don't get a great amount of detail in the text today.
The thing I think of as I read that story is how you and I are called to be both - disciple and apostle in the 21st century. You hear a lot of talk about the need to promote discipleship in the church today. I agree. We need to be learners. We need to be disciples who learn from Jesus.
But to be a true disciple is to recognize that you are an apostle as well. If we stop only at learning, then perhaps we haven't learned enough about our role. You and I, the baptized people of God are called to reach out and minister every single day. Your learning about Christ is to move you into action. Your learning about Christ is to have an affect on your daily actions. Your learning about Christ means that you will touch the lives of the people around you this day with love, with graciousness, with respect, and with hospitality.
On this side of Jesus' resurrection, there are way more than 12 apostles. On this side, I would like to believe that every single disciple of Christ would see themselves as an apostle as well- one sent by the master teacher (Jesus) with a special role!
Have you ever considered yourself an "apostle"?
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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