Yesterday I spent seven hours in the car with one of my mentors.

I was headed to Indianapolis for a preaching assignment and I asked him to come along. During the 3.5 hour drive to Indy I did all of the driving and most of the listening. I was excited about speaking and not really in the mood to spend my drive time experiencing teaching moments. I thought that he would at least give me time to focus in on what was to come.

He didn’t.

Instead he talked to me about manhood. He challenged me to do my best in ministry. He reminded me to have a balanced family life. He would be moving away in a few days and he wanted to make every moment count.

So he did.

The time would come soon enough to preach and teach. This was my time to listen and learn.

Matthew 10:1 tells us that Jesus called his twelve disciples to himself. Disciples are people who follow after someone. The disciples spent their time watching what Jesus did. They say him preach, teach, heal, and encourage. In Matthew 10:2 the twelve are referred to as apostles. Apostles are ones who are sent forth. No longer on the sideline. Starters in the game.

I’m sure there were a few overanxious types in the group. 

Why do I have to wait so long? What do I have to watch all the time? I’m ready why can’t I do that? No matter how they tried to rush it they would not be ready to be send forth until Jesus said they were ready. 

We can see ourselves in this group. Anxious to lead and teach. Ready to show the world our stuff. Frustrated by the process. Why does this have to take so long? We find the answer in the silence between verses 1 & 2 of Matthew 10. The disciples are ready to be sent forth only after they’ve spend enough time following after Jesus.