Sent Out

 

Jesus called his twelve followers together. He gave them power over evil spirits and power to heal every kind of disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles:

Simon (also called Peter),

Andrew, the brother of Peter,

James, the son of Zebedee,

John, the brother of James,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

Thomas,

Matthew, the tax collector,

James, the son of Alphaeus,

Thaddaeus,

Simon, the Zealot,

Judas Iscariot (the one who handed Jesus over to his enemies).

Jesus sent the twelve men out…

(Matthew 10:1-5 ERV)

Matthew omitted no-one from his list of disciples that Jesus sent out. Jesus too left no-one out, He empowered them all to perform whatever they were sent out to do.

Beloved, what has Jesus sent you out to do but you haven’t yet done because you are feeling ill-equipped to do?

Jesus gave power even to Judas Iscariot, the same Judas who would eventually betray Him and He will also empower you. You will never be sent out without the necessary spiritual tools to get the job done.

Look at the composition of Matthews list again.

Some rowdy and at times ill-tempered fishermen, one prone to curiosity, a known sceptic, a tax collector – despised in those days, and another, zealous for the law and for God. These twelve were also diverse in their levels of education and wealth.

Matthew shows us that the twelve represented a diverse cross-section of humanity with their varying temperaments and characteristics, which places any of us in line to be chosen and sent out.

No-one is off limits. God can and will choose and empower anyone to fulfil His purpose. Brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” were used despite their fiery tempers.

Apostle Paul formerly Saul, by his own admission, was once “the worst of all sinners”, proud and violent, an insulter of Jesus and a persecutor of His followers, yet he became a great apostle of Christ. God, in His mercy and by His grace transformed him into a true believer and man of utmost faith in Christ Jesus, “an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life” (read 1 Timothy 1:12-17).

Beloved, these twelve and Paul, are prime examples of ordinary people sent out to do the extraordinary, to share in the ministry of Christ Jesus. The Shepherd knows His sheep.

So, do not discount yourself or others as being unfit for ministry.

And when you are sent out, always keep in mind that it is God who makes His power source available to you just as He did with the twelve.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Sent Out” © 2025 December 10, 2025