In my time as a jiu jitsu student, I've also volunteered as a coach in our academy's classes for children (My entire family, including my wife and kids, are students there). It's a classic case of learning from a qualified master teacher (My black belt professor) and then sharing that gained knowledge with others. It's not that I'm a master-teacher myself, I'm far from it! But I've taken what my professor has given me and open-handedly given it away to kids as if I was an extension of my black belt professor. It's his lessons that I'm passing along, not my own.
The same is true for the Christian life. Mark 6:7-13 records Jesus' sending of the twelve from village to village to proclaim the good news and serve the hurting. What is noteworthy is that the twelve did this as ambassadors of Jesus, meaning that they taught and served in his name and authority, without Jesus being physically present. Literally, the twelve served as extensions of the Master Teacher, teaching us that all followers of Jesus are also meant to be extensions of Jesus, and not just back then, but also today.
This week, how can you be the voice, hands, and feet of Jesus to a world that needs to hear, see, and know him?
Scripture for Meditation
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)
Prayer
Gracious Father, help me to live as a bright extension of your Son. Jesus, help me speak, act, and love as you have for me. Holy Spirit, empower me to be the voice, hands, and feet of Jesus, for the sake of a world that needs to hear him, see him, and know him. Amen.