Spreading the word and spreading the work. In Matthew 10 Jesus was about to create spiritual Special teams. Men with skills, abilities, devotion, zeal and weaknesses.
“10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”
Shall we recount how these men failed? One betrayed him, one denied him 3 times all but one deserted him yet these are the men he chose. In spite of their fallenness and failures today, 2000 years later we have a group of people on the planet who have heard of Jesus, know his story, can read about him and are part of the largest group of followers in history.
“As of 2010 Christianity was by far the worlds largest religion with an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, nearly a third of the worlds population.”
12 guys changed the world. It didn’t stay 12 guys.
The invitation is still open.
Who wants to be clean and forgiven and loved and live forever?
“6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Our sin separates us from God, but Jesus creates a way to be reconciled.
What will we do with that information today? Receive it? Share it? Both?
(Originally posted 2/20/2017)
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