Jesus Calling

-

 

Has Jesus Called You?

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20 (ESV)

16 [Jesus] Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Devotion:

          In this scripture, Jesus sees two sets of brothers. These brothers are plying their trade of fishing. He calls them to follow him. Jesus doesn’t promise them fame, fortune, or other material rewards if they follow him. In fact, these brothers will receive nothing but being unknown, poverty, and no material reward at all for their efforts to follow Jesus. Trading their lives as fishermen for the life of being fishers of men indeed brings them much grief, heartache, and pain.

          So how and why did they persist for almost three years following this itinerant teacher? What was it about Jesus that attracted them and bound their lives to his regardless of the personal cost? First of all, we should note that not all the disciples made through to the resurrection and Pentecost. At a few different times some of Jesus some who were following Jesus left him. Indeed, on the night of his arrest and trial only two (Peter and John) followed him to his mock trial at the high priest’s house. Peter of course famously denied even knowing Jesus at all three times. Judas, of course, betrayed him and committed suicide rather than face what he had done.

          This business of being called by Jesus is dangerous stuff. And Jesus is still calling people today. If you accept the title Christian that means that you have been called by Jesus to live your life for him. We in America take this matter rather casually. Up until this point in time claiming the name of Christ has been rather painless for us. While we realize that in other parts of the world like China and Iran for example being known as a Christian can cost you your freedom or even your very life.

          How do we respond to the call of Jesus on our lives in this world that is so filled with corruption and violence? We must take up our cross and follow Jesus. There is no other way for us to live. We may have to put up with harassment and strife if we claim the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We can do this because we know that in the end Jesus will deliver us from evil. Jesus will ready us to live a life of victory with him. So, shall we be fishers of men? Let us hope that Jesus finds us faithful in that task as we live each day for him.

 

Prayer:

          Holy Lord, prepare our hearts to follow you through whatever trials may come our way. Help us to drop what we are doing when we sense your call to follow you in some new way or in some greater depth. Lead us on the narrow path that leads to our eternal home with you. Praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May we always be found praising God. Amen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more