OUR DAILY BREAD : DISCIPLESHIP 101

[cimi]

October 1
Friday


DISCIPLESHIP

READ:
Mark 3:13-19
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[Jesus] appointed
twelve, that they might
be with Him and that
He might send them out
to preach. __Mark 3:14
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Because I am not a "fix it" kind of guy, I had to call a friend who is a great handyman to make some repairs in my home recently. He came over, and I gave him my list. But to my surprise, he told me I would be doing the repairs myself! He modeled for me how to do it, instructed me along the way, and stayed with me. I followed his example and successfully made the repairs. This modeling seems close to what Jesus did when He called His first disciples.

When Jesus called those men to follow Him, He wanted them to be with Him and to teach the good news of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14,39; 6:12). The first job would require being under the immediate supervision of Jesus--learning His words and interpretation of the Scriptures and watching His behavior. For the second task, Jesus sent them out to preach (Mark 3:14-15)--saying what He said and doing what He did. As they carried out these tasks, they were to be dependent on Jesus.

Today, Jesus is still calling His followers to this simple, yet powerful process of discipleship--being with Him, following His instructions, and living His example. Are you one who is dependent on Him as you're following Him today? __Marvin Williams
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````````````````````````FOR FURTHER STUDY````````````````````

`````````For help in drawing near to the Lord to learn from Him,```````
``````````read the online resource Keeping Our Appointments````````
``````````````With God at www.discoveryseries.org/q0718```````````
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Discipleship is relational and experiential.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 3:13-19**************

13 And He went up on the
mountain and called to Him
those He Himself wanted.
And they came to Him.

14 Then He appointed
twelve, that they might be
with Him and that He might
send them out to preach,

15 and to have power to heal
sicknesses and to cast out
demons: 16 Simon, to whom
He gave the name Peter;

17 James the son of Zebedee
and John the brother of
James, to whom He gave
the name Boanerges, that is,
"Sons of Thunder";

18 Andrew, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son
Alphaeus, Thaddeus,
Simon the Cananite; 19 and
Judas Iscariot, who also
betrayed Him. And they
went into a house.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

From a human perspective, it would seem that the men Christ chose
to be His disciples were utterly the wrong option. Many were rustic,
uneducated, and lacking in social graces. But perhaps Jesus selected
these particular men just because they were so unlikely. Perhaps
they were the ideal choices to serve as disciples because they would
become a reflection of what the body of Christ is made of--average
people with limited abilities (1 Cor. 1:26-30)--so "that no flesh
should glory in His presence" (v.29). By choosing the foolish and
weak and base people of the world to be His co-workers, Jesus
assured that the Father would receive the praise for all that is
accomplished. __BILL CROWDER