“Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:1–5)

Do you know the difference between a disciple and an apostle?  It is kind of a trick question. You can be both. The first disciples of Jesus became apostles. A disciple is a follower. An apostle is one who is sent.

At the start of his letter to the believers in Galatia, Paul, who was not one of the original disciples, identifies himself as an apostle. He then goes on to define what that means. Jesus sent him to tell others the good news, what Jesus did to rescue us from sin and death. Acts 9 has the record of God calling Saul, who was on his way to persecute followers/disciples of Jesus. Jesus struck him blind, asked why he was persecuting him, and told him to wait for a guy named Ananias to come and restore his sight. Ananias was skeptical, because he had heard a lot of bad stuff about this guy named Saul.

“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”” (Acts 9:15–16)

God choses people to follow Him and then sends them out to tell others. Disciples and apostles. God called you to faith in the one who lived and died and rose again for your salvation. To whom is he sending you to be His chosen instrument?