“He gave them a new identity: An appointment and a new name. Now, we are not apostles, but God has appointed you for some work and gives you a new name. Christian. Salt. In eternity, we’re told we’ll receive another new name specially chosen by Jesus for us, written on a white stone.
The second thing He gave was communion with Him. He summoned these twelve to be with Him. He did not sit in first class while they stayed in coach. He was with them day in and day out.
This is such an important difference between the crowd and the disciples.
The crowd didn’t care about being with Jesus. They just wanted from Him. But discipleship and relationship with God is about being with the Lord. That’s what qualified the Twelve to bear witness of Jesus and participate in His work, by the way – being with Jesus.
We’ve been enjoying a worship song that has a wonderfully tender chorus. The opening lines are, ‘You are our daily bread, You are our daily bread, and we will seek Your face before we seek Your hand.’ A reminder that the point is being with Jesus. Communion before supplication.”
