Scripture
Jesus said to them: “Come with me and I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.”
Observation
Jesus goes around collecting people to follow him. This is the reverse of the accepted way of things. Normally a man would seek the permission of a rabbi to become his disciple. Jesus has authority to call His followers to come with Him.
Immediately they leave their family business to follow Jesus. John tells the story differently, but it seems clear that they knew who Jesus was, and had been followers of John. Now the call is to leave everything and follow Jesus.
Application
Jesus still asks us to leave everything that is dear to us and follow His way. Perhaps He will return to us all or some of what we surrender to Him- perhaps not.
The important thing is to let go of all those things that we hold dear and let Him have sovereignty over it all. The call to follow Jesus means leaving comfort, security and significance behind on a risky adventure of faith.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I choose to follow you. I hand over to you every part of my life, everything that I live for, my family and friends, my job and home and I lay these things at your feet to do with as you choose. Help me to see the walk of faith as an adventure in which you will keep me safe. Please teach me how to become a fisher of men and to help your Kingdom grow. Amen.
That was Sunday's text at church! I wonder if maybe God is presenting it to me again because I didn't pay enough attention to it on Sunday.
ReplyDeletePossibly! I am following the lectionary that many denominations use, so it's quite possible that they will come up in church the Sunday after I post them.
ReplyDelete