Hi it’s Mick – welcome to Friday’s Podcast. I hope are finding these Podcasts helpful as you look to live out your faith in Jesus every day. If so, why not pass on these Podcast/website details to someone you know who might find them helpful – share the blessing!

REFLECTION

Our Podcast reflections in this first week of 2018 have been focused on our relationship with God – our personal walk with Jesus. We began on Monday with Kingdom – ‘the time has come … the Kingdom is here’ – God’s new way of living has arrived. On Tuesday God’s call – “follow me,” says Jesus. Wednesday, prayer – the discipline of spending time with God. Yesterday, kindness – Jesus reaching out to Levi with simple kindness and changing his life. Today Mark 3:1-19, Disciple – the simple model of living this Jesus life. Listen to v13-15:

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

What is a disciple? The Greek word often used in the New Testament to describe a follower of Jesus is ‘mathetes’ – it means learner or more specifically ‘apprentice’. An apprentice is a practical person; someone who learns a skill from someone more experienced, puts it into practice and makes a difference. What a great way to describe our Christian journey – putting the Jesus life into practice, living it out everyday and so making a difference in our world.

How do we do this? Look again what Mark says – Jesus calls his followers, they respond and come to him and he appoints them to go out and live his life and make a difference. I am a Christian; I am a disciple, a Jesus apprentice and have been now for many years. At the beginning of every new year I still look to refocus my life on Jesus. To recommit myself to live his life, to have his values, vision and purposes in my life. To remember again, as with those followers on that hillside that he has called me and appointed me to live his life every day wherever he puts me, with his authority to speak and act in his name. To again count the cost as I follow his call. What about you?

It’s week one in 2018. I wonder if you have any plans for this year – I know some are better at this than others. It is good to make plans but I, like you, have absolutely no idea what this year might hold; family, finances, future, health, work, relationships, hopes, dreams the list goes on – top tip, get your holidays booked in early! We don’t know what this year’s holds but we do know who holds this year in his hands. Jesus was faithful to those first disciples on that hillside as he called them to follow him and sent them into the world to be heavenly channels – by their words and actions to bring heaven to earth and make a difference.

How do I keep close to Jesus this year? Here are some simple top tips – read your Bible, pray, be in church community, play your part in building community that makes a difference. Be determined to be the ‘kindness people’ in a world that is starved of kindness and hope. Be encouraged, as you listen to daily Podcasts like this, that in 2018 you are part of a Godly inspired movement of love – Jesus people are everywhere! In 2018 commit again to Christ! As we follow him this year, he WILL be faithful to me and you and those we love and our lives will make a difference!

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I am your disciple. I commit myself to you again this year. As you bless me and those I love let me be your blessing to others. Amen.

READING: MARK 3:1-19

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus,...