Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The call and commission
Luke. 6. 12-19

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (12)

God calls individuals for specific tasks in the world. Every calling of God is endowed with a responsibility. In our Bible portion today, we read about the choosing of the 12 as apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ. Before choosing the 12, Jesus went to the mountain to pray.  Prayer was an important ingredient in the life of Jesus. In prayer Jesus seeks the will of the father before taking any decision in the messianic ministry.  Prayer enabled Jesus to discern the heart of God. It empowers him to take appropriate decisions boldly and without any hesitations. Just like in Jesus life, prayer is an essential thing in our Christian life. We understand God’s will for us and the world through prayer.

Next, we see Jesus naming the 12 as apostles. The act of naming is an expression of reforming or renewing. Jesus transforms, gives new names, new visions and experiences to those whom He has called for the ministry. An apostle is a person with a commitment for mission. The anointing by God makes such a person an active participant in the mission of God.  As Christians we must realize our special anointing and submit ourselves to the special ministry for which God has called us. We need to be active participants in the mission of God and not be passive onlookers. Only by our participation do we become real apostles.

The calling of the disciples by Jesus is for imitating Him and to be with him. It is only by being with Jesus that the disciples can learn from Him and imitate Him. And only by being with Jesus can the disciple’s ministry become a glorious and blessed experience. The calling is also to continue the earthly ministry of Jesus. In the book of Acts, we see the apostles continuing the work that Jesus began. We need to continue the ministry of Jesus emulating the model of Jesus. It is only when we are obedient and surrenders ourselves completely to the call of God that we are transformed and empowered by Christ.
Our duty as a called out community is to discern Gods will in the places where we have been stationed, and fulfill our God given responsibilities with prayer. Only by doing so can we bring Glory to God.

 Prayer: Lord, help us to discern our call and strengthen us to fulfill our responsibilities. Amen.

Thought for the Day:  God’s Call is with a purpose

Rev.Shaji Thomas, St. Thomas MTC, Chicago.

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