Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Luke 6:12, Jesus Christ spends time in prayer prior to calling these twelve men to be with Him and around Him as disciples. He is being very careful. Before making decisions it is wise to take it to God the Father. Later, after He rose from the dead, Jesus was to say to eleven of those men, “As the Father sent me, so send I you.” I will send you in exactly the same way as the Father sent Me. Having been in His discipleship school they were eventually being sent out into the world in the same way as the Father sent Him into the world – born of the Spirit and anointed with the Spirit.
Peter is named first. From the outset Jesus has His eye on this man. Jesus saw the potential - his energies and abilities, which were to be channelled in a different direction. Peter emerges as the leader in the early church, and leaders lead for good or ill - well or badly. That meant persecution and imprisonment from the beginning. There is a Cross to carry.
The Father gave these men to Jesus, so that He could teach and train them, and prepare and equip them. We read something of that in John Chapter 17.
A disciple can never resign if the calling of God is upon his life. Oh, he can run away - give up - or be like Judas, and go and hang himself. Resignation, or retirement, are not options given to disciples of Jesus Christ!
They are thrust out into the world. They did not know what they were getting into. Peter was in the front line. That is the way Jesus works. They were called, taught, commissioned, equipped and anointed - to preach, heal, teach and lead. Quite a calling – yes, but they also had quite a Provider. God always has a group who are chosen, and even in that group there will be those whom HE will call to come closer, like Peter James and John. These men were going to be used by God to change the world.
There are basically two groups in this world - those who need Jesus - those whom Jesus needs. Seek to be in both groups fully, totally, in a committed way – and receive and enjoy all that God has to give you and do through you.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.