Friday 21 Jan 2022

January 21: Mark 3:13-19

Key Verse: Mark 3:13
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

Devotion:
Jesus personally chose the twelve disciples. I think many people would have been trying to follow Jesus at the time and, as the custom at that time, they would call Him teacher and do whatever He said so they could learn as much as possible. They, and many more, had seen Him drive out demons, heal people and would come to see people being brought back to life! This is the power He wanted the disciples to have – but He knew they would not achieved their full potential because of their doubts.

Jesus had no doubt about who He was and how much could be accomplished by God. He depended fully on His Father so others would see how they too could get this power from God – as long as they would acknowledge it coming from God and not anything they were doing.

This is the power He shared with them, and taught them to use. This is the type of power He wants us to be able to share in too – not because He has chosen us to be His personal disciples, but because He is giving us power through us being dependent on Him. If we continue to listen and obey, He will continue to listen to our prayers and answer them. This is where the power of healing and authority comes from – not because we are special in any way, but because we ask God to do this.

Even though Jesus chose these twelve people, one of them would turn their back on Jesus and betray Him. Jesus knows not all of us are going to do all we can, because we do have doubts and we do give in to temptations. But He still offers us the same position as those He knows will go all the way with Him. He gives us all equal chance to ask Him to answer our prayers!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you doubt your prayers will be answered?

Will you remember Jesus chose you?