EXCEPTIONAL APPRENTICE.

MEMORISE : Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5 : 19.

READ : JOHN 5 : 5 - 9.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LEVITICUS 4 : 1 - 5 : 13 & PSALM 119 : 129 - 144.

An apprentice is someone who is attached to a master to learn his master’s trade, so that he can become like the master someday. An apprentice watches the footsteps of the master and tries to follow them. A good and wise apprentice closely watches everything the master does in order to gain all his knowledge and experience. In John 5 : 19, Jesus saw Himself as an apprentice of His own Father. He did whatever He saw the Father do. We can learn some deep lessons from this principle of apprenticeship in all areas of Christian activities. A true disciple will not go outside of whatever his master does. The servant is not greater than his master, according to the teaching of Jesus ( Matthew 10 : 24 - 25 ). Anyone who learns a trade should consider himself a success if he is as good as his master. Jesus however made an exception for His disciples. He expects us to do the works He did, and exceed them by doing even greater works than He did. I am convinced that for a reader of this devotional, greater works, as promised by Jesus in John 14 : 12, will be done through you in Jesus’ Name.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

At the time of my new birth in Christ, I was a lecturer of mathematics at the University of Lagos. I considered myself a smart boy in those days, but when I got into the church, my ignorance was revealed to me with humility. The challenge I got from the display of Bible knowledge by uneducated members of the church made me study the Bible as if I was preparing for a PhD examination. As I read the Bible again and again, I was stunned by the promise of Jesus in John 14 : 12. I saw that those who believe in Him would raise the dead, make the lame walk, open blind eyes and do even more than He did. From that moment, I made up my mind that according to His word, I also would do the works He did, and that I would do even greater works than He did. I decree that you will begin to experience the performance of the Lord’s promise to do the works that He did and even much more, in the mighty Name of Jesus. Doing greater works than Jesus did is real, and that promise has been fulfilled in the lives of many. I am announcing to you that you are next in line, because from now on, you will begin to watch closely everything the Master does, so that you can gain His knowledge and experience.

KEY POINT :

An apprentice watches the footsteps of the master and tries to follow them.

AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.