Invitation to live the Great Adventure

Invitation to live the Great Adventure

¹³ And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. ¹⁴ And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.  Mark 3:13-14

The twelve came to Jesus for a specific purpose that He had planned for them.  Jesus called unto himself those he desired, wanted, or willed.  The following definition of “desired” comes from Bible Hub lexicon of verse 13.

thélō (a primitive verb, NASdictionary) – to desire (wish, will), wanting what is best (optimal) because someone is ready andwilling to act.

2309 /thélō ("to desire, wish") is commonly used of the Lord extending His "best-offer" to the believer – wanting (desiring) to birth His persuasioHn (faith) in them which also empowers, manifests His presence etc.

Jesus understands that we respond to “best offers”.  He extended an invitation to them.  I am sure that all of us would have liked to hear his pitch.  It was engaging but also authentic.  He offered them the opportunity to change the world and they followed him.

Two thoughts about this verse that are worth dwelling upon. First, understand that Jesus desires ALL of us to follow him.  The desire to be a Christian does not originate within us.  He first loves us and we respond.  What is important is that He never stops loving us.  His desire to call us is based solely on His desire that does not change.  He loves us, desires us, wants the best for us, pursues us, beautifully communicates his intentions of accepting us, makes himself known.  If you do not recognize that Jesus desires for you to be whole, just ask him to make that a reality in your life.

Second, Jesus knew how “to pitch” his offer.  It was authentic and not some bait and switch offer.  Jesus communicated that he wanted them in his program, that he liked them, that he wanted them to be with him, that they were part of a select group that had a specific task to fulfill, that they were “going somewhere”.  That invitation is true for every believer.  True Jesus is no longer walking physically among us, but his pursuit  of us is just as specific.  “to those who believe in Him he gives the right to be called children of God and that is what you are.”

When we share about the wonderful opportunity to follow Jesus, may we become proficient in the invitation?  Yes, God works through all of our attempts of telling others about Jesus.  We can, however, include the same elements that Jesus did in his pitch to the Apostles.  He calls us by name, he desires us, he wants to be with us, he has a plan for us that is good, we are accepted and no longer isolated, he appoints us for specific tasks, he believes in us to send us out to do his bidding.  The Christian life is far more than just accepting a set of “beliefs”.  We are invited to live the Great Adventure with the best guide in the world, Jesus.  And we can become all things to all people that we may win some to the Lord Jesus.

Father,  thanks for the invitation to follow you.  I am glad that you want me to be with you.  I love gaining your perspective about others and me.  Please place your heart of compassion for the lost in us.  Show us those who are ready to follow you.  Help us to know that all of us are "sent" to be witnesses of the transformation that you have and are accomplishing in our lives.  In Jesus Name, Amen.