SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/26/2021 10:59 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-6 “Intro
to Matt. 10:2a
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matt. 10:2a
Message of the
verse: “Now
the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called
Peter,”
We continue into this long
introduction to the first part of Matthew 10:2 as we continue to talk about the
apostles of Jesus and in today’s SD we want to begin by talking about false
disciples, something we were talking about yesterday. There were false disciples in Jesus’ time and
there have been false disciples throughout the history of the church age,
including today. These false disciples are
willing to accept whatever of the gospel that fits their personal inclinations
and their personal lifestyles. These
false disciples are perfectly willing to be identified as Christians, even
belong to a church, and be active in its work, and give money to its
support. However they have no intention
of giving themselves to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master, for when such a demand
is made of them, or even suggested, they vanish as quickly and as permanently
as those disciples at Capernaum.
Remember the story of the prostitute that John MacArthur meet with in an
earlier SD to better understand this point better. Why do you think this kind of a thing
happens? Well for one thing as we look
back to some of the difficult teachings that Jesus taught it would offend these
false disciples so much that in most cases they would just walk away, like the
woman I just mentioned. His teaching
caused these people to stumble as seen in John 6:61. MacArthur writes “Stumble’ translates skandalizo which means to put up a snare
or stumbling block, and is the term from which we get scandal. The original
meaning pertained to a trap held up by a stick. When an animal grabbed food
that was attached to the stick, the stick would fall, causing the trap to
capture or kill the animal. The offended
disciples at Capernaum understood clearly that to accept Christ’s demand to eat
His flesh and drink His blood in order to receive eternal life meant to give up
their old life—which they would not relinquish even for heaven. Consequently, they had nothing more to do
with Jesus.”
We
continue with the story found in John chapter six as in verse 67 we read “So
Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Verse 64 has given us a clue to what their
answer would be in verse 67 “64 "But there are some of you who do not
believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not
believe, and who it was that would betray Him.”
We believe that Jesus wanted to make sure that the Twelve realized in
their own minds the cost of true discipleship and so Peter replied, probably
for the group as he seemed to be their spokesman “68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom
shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come
to know that You are the Holy One of God." Verses 70-71 says “70 Jesus answered them,
"Did I Myself not choose you,
the twelve, and yet one of you is
a devil?" 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he,
one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.”
Judas was the only one who decided not to eat Christ’s flesh and drink
His blood, in other words completely follow Him no matter what.
Perhaps
these twelve men that Jesus chose to be His apostles did not know it at the
time but they had in their hands the full responsibility for initially taking the
gospel to the rest of the world. How
were they to do this? The same way that
all believers can accomplish the Lord’s work that has been assigned to each
believer, and that is through the power of the Holy Spirit as believers study
the Word of God, pray asking God what it is that He has chosen for them to do
throughout their lives.
Ephesians
2:20 tells us that the church was “20 having been built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.”
Jesus promised them, “"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to
your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). As we have mentioned “through the Holy Spirit
the apostles received God’s divine revelation and were the ones responsible for
writing the most of the New Testament.
It was therefore to ‘the apostles’ teachings’ to which the true and
faithful church has always devoted itself, beginning in Jerusalem immediately
after Pentecost (Acts 2:42). Through
them the doctrine of the new covenant was established, explained, and proclaimed.”
There
is more that they did as not only were they the channels of Christian theology
and also evangelism, but they were also the first examples of godly, virtuous
living for the church in order to follow God which confirmed their authority as
true apostles as seen in 2 Cor. 12:12 “The signs of a true apostle were
performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.” One more verse to look at as we conclude this
SD “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has
now been revealed to His
holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit” (Eph. 3:5).
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I am thankful to better understand a bit more
about the responsibilities of these twelve men, knowing that I serve the same
Lord as they did and have the same Spirit within me in order to do things that God
has called me to do.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the
Lord to continue to give me the victory in order to walk with Him and do what
He has called me to do.
7/26/2021 11:38 AM
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