Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Call and Commissioning of the Apostles
Jesus called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.(V.13)  
Who does God call for His work?
When we read about the Apostles in the book of Acts supernatural events are recorded, but performed by common men. God called ordinary men, men of different background, for one purpose. God calls all His children to be messengers of His Word. For over two thousand years, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been carried to the ends of the earth by these men and women of God. When we make ourselves available to God, He calls us and sends us out to be His messengers.
How does God equip those who are called?
God equips His children through discipleship, once we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The fundamental truth of the Gospel, which is the Good News of Jesus Christ, has not changed and will never change.
1) The Bible reveals the spiritual truths given by God to man as God’s message. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).
2) We are also equipped through our time spent in prayer. Prayer is not only us giving God our requests; it is acknowledging His sovereignty and seeking His strength to do His Will.

WE are all called to be messengers of the Gospel
The Apostles sent out by Jesus to declare the Gospel were men who experienced suffering, rejection, and brokenness. These men who carried the Gospel of Jesus didn’t have everything figured out, nor were they perfect. Their commitment and love for Jesus allowed God to supernaturally work through them. Just like the twelve apostles, we too are discipled through Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit and through the Word of God. We must ask the Lord to open our spiritual eyes and use us as an instrument for delivering His message. Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field”(Matthew 9:37-38).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us the ability and passion to seek You and Your Will in our lives. Equip us with all that we need to be your messengers in this world. In Jesus name we pray….. Amen.
Thought for the Day: What challenges or excuses have you told yourself that stops you from being a messenger in your daily life? The enemy wants us to feel incapable or fearful to go outside of our comfort zone, so that we are ineffective for Christ. Today, challenge yourselves to take the next step in being a messenger for the Gospel by being more available to God.

Joji  Koshy, St. Pauls MTC, Dallas

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