Each Believer as an Apostle

Just as Christ was sent by His Father; just as Paul and others in the scriptures were apostles (sent ones) of Christ; so are we as believers apostles. Matthew 28:19-20 make it clear that we are being sent into the world to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are being sent by Christ to spread the news of our sin, His holiness, and His act of redemption on our behalf.

The act of sending us as believers into the word (thus making us apostles) has several implication:

1. Our lives have greater meaning and purpose than we are living them to. We have a high calling, a high purpose that I do not believe the majority of Christians, beginning with me, live up to. We go through life looking for meaning and purpose. The problem is, we are looking in all of the wrong places; favor and approval of men, success in material possession and career, self help books, and on and on The purpose and meaning our lives is found in scripture. If only we would look to it, accept it, and embrace it with whole hearted devotion.

2. We are not alone. God has sent us to do His will, to do His work. He will not leave us to do it alone. He provides the grace, the faith, and the desire to do it. Nothing comes from us. What a relief!

3. When people reject what we share, they are not rejecting us, but God. Since it is God who sent us, God who empowers, enables, and gives the message to share, when they reject it, they are not rejecting us but the one who sent us. Thus we should not develop a complex when rejected, it is not about us! It is about God! Of course, a rejection of God ought to build a divine fire in us that spurs us on to continue to preach and teach with fervor and passion! If the death and suffering of Christ means anything, we ought to be driven ON by rejection, not put OFF by it!

So, Michael...what will I do with my calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ? Will I embrace it and allow the grace, faith, and power of God to flow through me to carry it out, or will I shrink away for fear of rejection and ridicule? God help me to embrace the calling, be filled with power and passion, and carry it forth!