The Journal of Biblical Accuracy, http://www.jba.

gr/

First things first – For what did Christ call us?

The subject of this short article or better note will be just two
verses in the gospel of Mark. They are verses that most probably all
of us know but to which we don’t always pay the required attention.
They are in Mark 3:13-14:

Mark 3:13-14
“And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He
Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve,
that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to
preach.”

For what did Christ appointed the 12? Many of us immediately

bypass the part I have pointed out in bold letters and they say “that
He might send them to preach”! But this is not what the Word of
God says. He chose them and appoint them first of all to BE WITH
HIM, to have fellowship with Him, to be wherever He was. Then it
is to go and preach.
Christ has invited you and me to too. Though the “go and
preaching” is part of the invitation and though God has called us to
walk into the good works He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10),
let us bear in mind that this invitation does not come first. What
comes first is “to be with Him”, and then, in fellowship with Him,
“go and preach” and “do the good works God has prepared us for us
to do”. Many of us focus first on works and this brings dryness. We

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The Journal of Biblical Accuracy, http://www.jba.gr/

must remember that the “go and preach” part of invitation Christ
extended to us came second. What came first was TO BE WITH
HIM.

Tassos Kioulachoglou