In today’s lesson we will be using some words that are often thought of as synonymous, but which, in fact, are not. These two words are ‘disciple’ and ‘apostle’. It will be important today to understand the difference. A ‘disciple’ is a follower. A disciple believes in a teacher’s teaching and makes the effort to apply that teaching to their life. As believers, we are disciples of Christ. Both John the Baptist and Jesus had many disciples. In fact, Luke 6:17 tells us that Jesus had a large crowd of disciples. An ‘apostle’, however, is someone who has been called by that teacher to a particular role. We know that, out of His crowd of disciples, Jesus called twelve Apostles to fill a particular role in His ministry. Twelve was a symbolic number, representative of the twelve tribes who founded the nation of Israel. While Jesus had many disciples who followed Him, the twelve were called to a full-time role of serving in His ministry.
Read today’s text in Luke 6:12-19. Jesus had gone to a mountainside to pray. There, He had spent the entire night praying to God. He was about to choose the twelve, an important selection, and He devoted much time in prayer to God, the Father, before doing so. We should learn from His example and commit ourselves to prayer before making important decisions in our lives. When the morning came, we are told that He called His disciples together and chose twelve of them, which He then designated ‘Apostles’. Record the names of the twelve in your journal (verses 14-16).
People often ask why He chose Judas Iscariot. Did He know, at the time of choosing, that Judas would betray Him (John 6:64)? I believe that Jesus knew He must go to the cross and He knew the role that Judas must play in that. Here in verse 16, Luke does not hesitate to mention that Judas Iscariot was the traitor… nor does Mark’s account (Mark 3:19). If we ever find ourselves being betrayed by a friend, we can know that Jesus also knew this sorrow and understands our grief.
The Bible also tells us that, when Jesus was gathered here with so many of His disciples, that many sought to be healed, and many came who were possessed of demons. They pressed in on Him and made it difficult to teach because of the crowds. It was necessary for Jesus to have a smaller number of people that He could work with. While He had many followers, there were only twelve that He called into full-time ministry with Him.
Throughout time, God has been calling folks into full-time ministry. He seeks to establish a loving relationship with all men (2 Pet 3:9) and will lead all of His disciples to accomplish one task or another, but God does not call everyone into full-time ministry. Some of us, He will lead into other areas of work and then use us there for specific tasks or opportunities to serve Him. It is important that we, as His disciples, stay close to Him in prayer and always seek to know His will for our lives, serving Him as His will for us leads us to do. We must be willing to serve Him in whatever place He leads us. The Sunday School teacher who teaches a child about the Bible or the accountant who tells his co-worker about Christ are just as important to God’s work as the full-time missionary serving in a foreign country or the pastor in the pulpit. We must seek to know His will and do what it is He desires from us.
But there are those that God calls to full-time ministry. We know that, after Jesus’ death, Mattias was chosen to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle (Acts 1:12-26). Saul of Tarsus, also known as Paul, was also considered an Apostle of our Lord (I Cor 1:1), as well as Paul’ co-worker in missions, Barnabus (Acts 14:14). We can see from these Scriptures that these men the Bible calls Apostles were called by God to be so… they were not in full-time ministry by their own choosing:
- I Cor 1:1
- 2 Cor 1:1
- Gal 1:1
- Eph 1:1
- Col 1:1
- I Tim 1:1
Just as the twelve were chosen by Jesus to be apostles, Paul and Barnabus were also called to be apostles by God Himself. Are you feeling a call to full-time ministry? Many in full-time ministry are self-called and, in such cases, their ministries do not become effective, or fruitful, for God. But for those that God calls to serve Him, whether in full-time ministry, or to a certain task, He equips them with the skills and abilities to accomplish what He has called them to do (Eph 4:1-12). It is important that we are willing to do the specific thing He would have for us rather than aspiring to other things (Rom 12:3-8). All effort for God matters.
Read 1 Corinthians 12.
Please remember to show honor to those who have given their lives to full-time ministry. They have given up much to serve God full-time and are doing important work. At the same time, we must remember to show gratitude and respect to those who work in the nursery or clean the church’s restrooms. As disciples of Christ, all are doing jobs which need to be done, and no one can accomplish God’s purposes without the service of the others. And above all, be willing to do whatever it is that He asks you to do, that His will might be done here on earth.
Responding to God: Praise and worship God Almighty in all His wonders. Seek to know His exact will for you and how He would have you to serve Him. If He has called you to full-time ministry, be willing to answer that call. If He is leading you to do a certain task, be willing to do it. Commit all important decisions to prayer before making them. Thank Him for His wisdom and guidance. Show gratitude and respect to all who serve Him.
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