Disciples Don’t Quit

January 11

(Acts 1:13 NIV)  "When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James."

(Matthew 10:1-4 NIV) "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. {2} These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; {3} Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; {4} Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."

(John 17:5-12 NIV)  "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. {6} "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. {7} Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. {8} For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. {9} I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. {10} All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. {11} I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. {12} While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled."

It is amazing that eleven of Christ’s twelve original disciples remained together after His death. They had been scattered at His arrest, and it would have been easy to remain that way. They could have gone back to what they were doing before they met Jesus. Their leader had been killed, their lives were in danger, and there was enough collective guilt in their group to sink a ship. But three years of being with Jesus, and witnessing His resurrection, had changed them. They didn’t quit because they had become true followers of Christ. This is a great testimony for us today. Disciples don’t quit! The church today has its fair share of “flash in the pan” Christians -- “fair weather” wannabes who hang around with Jesus as long as it’s convenient, easy, and fun. They were around in Christ’s day too, but deserted Him when the teaching got hard. Don’t be found among them. Don’t quit! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day