THE ELEVEN CLUB

1. After Jesus’ resurrection [reported by Mary Magdalene]...
2. As they [the disciples] were reclining...
3. Jesus appeared to the disciples, and reproached them...
4. He reproached them for not believing that He was risen as reported, and for their hardness of heart.

What they knew should’ve supported the expectation of His return, enough to trust, rather than doubt the observation and the report of Mary Magdalene. Mary was the ‘text message’ and they all chose to ‘delete.’ Jesus confronted their thesis, upon which rested their inappropriate feelings, with His own direct appearance. Setting the record straight, He showed them grace, and continued to offer the privilege to get up and go; there’s the gospel to give and a world to reach. [Even an apostle can benefit from correction]. It would seem however that the ‘Eleven Club’ is alive and well, even now. We have the report. We understand ‘Him risen.’ We offer ‘the’ profession of faith. We enjoy oodles of Sunday sermons and Christmas plays and Good Friday services and ‘Easter’ dinner conversations and lectures on apologetics & amp; polemics and Messianic podcasts and gospel music, spirituals, anthems and hymns; but, in many, if not most instances, we, like them, are ‘reclining at the table’ while the commission to “make disciples” bumps against our comfort or discomfort. “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” [Romans 10:17]  “...Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” [Mark 16:15] “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God...” [Ephesians 2:8]

The mechanics of the commission are simple and straightforward: Go and sow, and then let go! The transformational testimonies are as diverse as there are people and circumstances. Keep it simple, saints! Go and sow, and then let go...and if so called, then ‘water.’ Reach and stretch. Give God the glory. Someone nearby awaits you. When Joshua assumed leadership for the fate of the Israelites following the death of Moses, we have the mandate much as he to “Only be strong and very courageous, be careful to do according to all ‘the law’ which Moses My servant had commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go...Have I not commanded you Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go [Joshua 1:7, 9].” Joshua was called to set foot to the place he’s been called to, bringing the people. We all have been called to set foot to the plan God has...to place our full weight and being upon it, to trust. “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” [Joshua 1:3]
[Every plan on which your entirety rests, He has given it to you, just as He set it to promise]. The bounty from our obedience rather than a place, will be the numbering of saved souls, and disciples developed, the restoring of families and neighborhoods, and the dissipation of manifold fears, as faithfulness crops up all around: all to the pleasure of the Lord. Let the church say ‘Amen.’ Our success is in the pleasing of God.
[Deacons, make ready the pool]

PRAYER: Dear Lord, move me like a Joshua with a certain assurance, and quicken my gift like with Mary Magdalene, that the breadth and depth of my sharing will be both confident enough, bold enough, and progressively selfless, to bless Your heart... that I run to be satisfying to You...that with patience I gladly endure. Your perfect will be done I pray.  Amen and Amen.
By Bro. Brockington