Good
Morning Friends,
"One
of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night
praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose
twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter),
his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James
son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas
Iscariot, who became a traitor." (Luke 6:12-16)
Peter
became the most dominant leader of the early church after Jesus went back to
heaven. He was a powerful and persuasive preacher.
James
became an early martyr of the church. He gave his life for what he believed. He
gave his life Jesus.
John
lived the longest of the apostles. He died a very old man. Before he died he
became the one through whom Jesus would send His message about the end times --
the Revelation. He also became a biographer of Jesus, writing one of the
accounts of Jesus' life.
Matthew
also became a writer. He also wrote an account of Jesus' life.
The
Bible tells us little about the other apostles, but church history tells us
that all but one of the rest became preachers of the Gospel, carrying God's message
around the world. All except John died an early death and a violent death
because of their faith in Jesus.
That
brings us to the last of the twelve apostles and Luke's Gospel gives just one
word to describe him: "Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." There
was a traitor among the earliest followers of Jesus. One of the twelve would
sell Jesus for a few coins.
All
twelve had the same opportunities. All twelve heard the same messages. All twelve
saw the same miracles. Eleven became leaders of Jesus' movement. One became a
traitor.
You
have opportunities. You hear messages. You see God at work. What will you become?
His,
by Grace, Steve
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