We read it in the Gospels, but The Chosen series effectively reveals how the disciples were clueless as to what was ahead of them and what Jesus would be wanting them to do. Jesus’ parables and symbolic lessons left them proverbially scratching their heads and looking to each other for clarity. Even after the Resurrection and Jesus’ forty days of unrecorded instruction, when they gathered on the mountain for Jesus’ Ascension, Matthew tells us, “When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.”

We are the same; we worship, but we doubt even though in many ways we have an advantage over the first disciples. Their one-on-one human interaction with Jesus seems very appealing, but we have two thousand years of theologians and saints – like Monday-morning quarterbacks – explaining Jesus’ messages with greater clarity than Jesus did himself. It can help us learn from and not repeat the apostles’ mistakes

Despite being clueless to their future, the disciples trusted and remained alert day after day to Jesus’ Word and the Holy Spirit’s nudgings. Thomas had no idea when he put his finger in Jesus’ side that he would travel to India and be credited for evangelizing that large nation. In the Garden of Gethsemane, St. James didn’t have a clue that he would end up in Spain and be the inspiration for millions of pilgrims to walk in his footsteps. When Peter was renamed Simon, he could not have imagined what being the leader of that fledgling ministry would mean on a day-to-day basis or that it would lead to his own crucifixion and his bones being perpetually preserved under an enormous basilica in Rome – a place he knew to be the capital of a pagan world power! We don’t know today what God will call us to do tomorrow, next month or next year.

Remaining faithful and taking one day at a time was key for those early Christians to discern and fulfill God’s call. It is for us too. God isn’t clearly outlining his plan for us either. Like the disciples, we must stay alert. We may be clueless, but God is an expert at providing clues.

Scripture: Read Matthew 28: 16-17. What stands out?

Call to Action: Reading Scripture is one of the best ways to learn to recognize God’s clues. Join our August Bible Study on four lesser-known Old Testament books. See the bulletin for details.