Do you think we are called to be Disciples or an Apostle? You kind of won-
der if the twelve apostles really knew or understood exactly what was being
asked of them when they said yes, they would become fishers of men.
Just for a moment, let’s imagine the conversation between Jesus and
the Heavenly Father when He got to heaven. The Father might say,
“So how did things go, Son?” Jesus might respond, “I think it went
well, Father.” The Heavenly Father might ask, “How did you leave it
with everyone there, do they know You died for their sins? Jesus
might say, “No Father not everyone knows yet.” The Father would
respond, “Who is going to go out and spread the news, Son?” Jesus
might say, “Well, I told Peter, Andrew, James and John, and a few
others and they will tell as many as they can. Then those people will
go tell someone and those people will tell someone and so on, until
everyone will know.” Our Father might say, That’s a big undertak-
ing for these humans, do you think they can do it? Jesus may say, I
believe it, because I know they are capable if they just put their faith
in Me.

We cannot say this was Jesus’s actual conversation with our Father,
but we know He has entrusted us with spreading the Word of God,
right? The word Disciple means a personal follower of Jesus during
His life, especially one of the twelve Apostles: also, a follower or
student of a teacher. The definition of the word Apostle means
someone who goes out and becomes an ambassador for Jesus Christ.
Because we know that He alone is worthy of our praise! First, you
must be a Disciple before becoming an Apostle.

That’s what’s happening in Matthew 10, Jesus has been teaching and
preaching to everyone while the twelve watched. Now it’s time for
them to go out and start preaching on their own. It says in Matthew
10:5-8, These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:
“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this mes-
sage: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise
the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely
you have received; freely give.

He sent them out with nothing but what was on their backs. Why do
you think He did that? It says in Matthew 10:9-10, “Don’t take any
money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper
coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and
sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality,
because those who work deserve to be fed.

Before we can run, we have to learn how to walk. Jesus wanted them
to be completely dependent on Him to learn His ways. He wanted
them to be focused solely on Him first, but later it says in Luke
22:35-36 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without a purse,
bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a
bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
Now Jesus trusted them to make the right choices.

When God comes into your life, He changes everything. He changes the way
we think, what we do and how we handle different situations. I know I am
not the same person that I was years ago all because of God coming into my
life and I’m so grateful to Him for it. Jesus changes everything! When we
allow Him to change our lives, we want to give our lives to Him and for Him
alone. We want to share the Word of God and our stories with others about
how He came into our lives. We want people to know the kind of peace and
comfort He gives us. So yes, we are Disciples, and yes, we can become an
Apostle. When we surrender to God and want to do His will, not our own.
We should share this kind of love with the world, because Jesus changes
everything. Amen. Happy Father’s Day!

~~Barb Novad