Scripture to Read: Luke 6:13–16
Jesus had spent the entire night in prayer. Then, God had Luke tell us this in Luke 6:13–16, “And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; 15 and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” No doubt, in His prayer time alone with the Father the night before, Jesus included a time to discuss the young men He would choose as His closest disciples. Jesus did not just haphazardly choose these twelve young men; He and God the Father knew the ones He would invest in the deepest and who would become His apostles. God the Father, Son, and Spirit knew that Judas Iscariot would become a traitor, but they still chose him to follow Jesus. Jesus loved Judas Iscariot and treated him the same as the other eleven. What a great reminder of God’s love for all mankind. God does not want anyone to die apart from Him and He takes no pleasure in those who refuse Him (Ezekiel 18:32, Ezekiel 33:11). Though God knows many will choose to refuse to surrender to Christ as Lord and walk in obedience to Him, nonetheless, He does all He can to reach them with the Gospel of Christ so they’ll repent and turn to Him for the forgiveness of their sins.
Challenge & Application
When you pray about major decisions, what does Jesus’ example convey to us all?
How are you following the example of Jesus in the people you are investing in and discipling?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!