The Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda, Oughta’s of Apostolic Life

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Posted by Katie

I say it all the time. I shoulda been born in a different generation.

If I had been born in the apostles’ generation, I coulda walked with Jesus. I coulda heard his voice. I coulda seen him do great and miraculous things right before my very eyes.

If that had been the case, I woulda had astounding faith just like Peter, Stephen, John and Mary.

What would it have been like to have walked by his side? What would it have been like to have heard his voice as he gathered his few closest friends? To hear him pray? To physically embrace him? To feel him wash my feet?

Amazing, that’s what.

That is what I always think about when I imagine the apostles. I imagine how lucky they were to be so close to the Source. It is right about then that I am usually struck with some serious conviction.

If I really believe the words of Jesus, then why do I ever doubt that I am as close to the Him as the apostles were?

First of all, I oughta know that Jesus chose this generation for me.

I oughta know that I DO walk with Jesus.

I oughta know that I CAN hear his voice and sometimes He speaks words that are just for me.

I oughta realize that I DO see him do great and miraculous things right before my very eyes.

I oughta be pretty amazed to realize that I am no farther from Jesus than the apostles were…not for any moment of my life.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” – John 14:15-21

Amen.