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## Called to Bless When Jesus called the first disciples to follow Him, they entered a new life and a new future. It was exciting when they saw astonishing miracles with healings and deliverance alongside forgiveness of sin and calls to repentance. They marveled at His wisdom in dealing with those who opposed Him and how He broke the boundaries to show acceptance and value to others. Then came the day when Jesus told the twelve they were going on a journey. No, not with Him at their side. This time, they would be going in pairs, and they were to take nothing with them but the clothes they wore. Having closely observed Jesus, they were now being sent to imitate His life and ministry before others. “As you go,” Jesus instructed them, “proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matt. 10:7-8 NIV). In other words, Jesus delegated His mandate to them, and it became their own. He appointed power and authority to the twelve, equipping them to do the job. They were to carry God’s blessing into each community. To speak peace into the houses that were open to them, calling for peace to rest on the home. To seek the good of the community, to announce the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Imitating Jesus, they were to speak His words and do His deeds with His authority and power. What is our purpose in life? As Christians, our purpose is to fully enter into all that Jesus has won for us, to fellowship with the Holy Spirit, to enjoy the love of our heavenly Father and to serve His purposes on earth, invoking the power of the age to come and releasing His blessing into a needy world. If you were to look upon blessing others as a core component of what you were put on this earth to do, how might that change your goals?