Luke 6:12-16
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples toHimself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples He spent the night in prayer to God. Once chosen He called them apostles. This passage brings two thoughts to mind.
First, when you have a decision to make do you spend valuable time in prayer so that you may discern the right choice? Jesus had many followers but He needed to assemble a team, an inner circle whom He could teach, instruct, guide, mold, prepare and ultimately send out to spread His message.
His team included a traitor, deserters and one who would deny Him three times. Jesus did not seem perplexed by this as He made His way to to the cross. He is not recorded at having second guessed Himself or the Father in regards to the men who were called and chosen to be His apostles.
John 2:23-25 tells us, "23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."
Jesus knew what was in man. He knew what was in the men He chose that day, yet He was obedient to the Father when He appointed them. He looked beyond who they were with limitations and saw who they could become. We need to be the same way.
We need to be dedicated to prayer.
We need to know the Father's voice.
We need to be obedient.
We do not need to second guess what we know the Lord has told us.
We must be faithful even when it seems we are being betrayed, even when we have been deserted, even when we have been denied. As we take up our own cross we must be faithful to the end.
Sometimes when it seems our plans are falling apart and people are not who we thought they should be, it is then that things are really beginning to come together. We must not be short-sighted. If our plans were prayerfully sought, then we should trust the Father to see it through to the end despite what our eyes may see and our ears may hear.
If we are not dedicated to prayer, if we do not know the Father's voice, if we are not obedient we will continually second guess everything that comes our way. We will be ruled by emotions and fears. We cannot be faithful to the end if we are not faithful to begin.
Secondly, verse 16 says that Judas Iscariot became a traitor. He was not that from the beginning. He was chosen to walk with Jesus. He was given a chance to know the Savior. Hen then had to make a choice. The same is true for each of us. We have a chance to walk with the Savior but we must make a choice.
Jesus was not a fair-weather savior. He did not die when it was convenient nor was He surrounded by friends and comforters. He taught, loved, mentored, prayed for and encouraged his disciples in spite of what He knew they would do. On the darkest day of His human life He was alone. Even upon the cross He was forsaken by the Father as our sin was placed upon Him.
He had the power of heaven at His disposal,
Yet He remained upon His cross
For the love of a world
He knew was lost.
Forsaken by His Father,
Deserted by His friends,
Jesus's love kept Him
On His cross to the end.
What will keep you to the end? Don't be a fair-weather christian, only serving God on the good days. In all your ways and through all your days acknowledge Him and serve Him to the end.
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