Abandon Your Boat And Follow

"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him." Matt 4:18-20

Simon Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets to follow Jesus. I wonder if those who are not fishermen attached to the waters understand how difficult it would be to leave behind their boats and nets to follow after a teacher.

Although, I was never really good at it, I grew up fishing. My family spent a lot of time on lakes and rivers and creeks. I love the water. Today, I live on a river. I look out over the water and am reminded of all the things that Jesus has done for me. The waters remind me of the washing and cleansing we have received through the blood of Christ. The waters remind me of my baptism into his death and resurrection. I have a small boat that sits at the dock and rarely gets used. It reminds me that I have been called to abandon my boat and go fish for people.

Following Jesus sometimes requires that we give up a thing or two that we love and enjoy so that we and others will know the greater joy of living in His presence. Now let's go fishing... for people. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 8:4-25 Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:4-25 NIV
It takes time to really get to know the LORD. We may hear the message and believe; but, it still takes time to really get to know; to have a relationship, with the LORD. There are many lessons to learn along the way in order to grow in Christ. Some take longer than others to learn the lessons.

Simon, the sorcerer, did not understand fully when he was first baptized. The people thought that he had great power; that is, until Philip came to town. Philip was busy proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Even this sorcerer, Simon, heard Philip, believed and was baptized. Simon was impressed with the great signs and miracles that were performed through Philip.

When Peter and John came to town, they prayed and laid hands on the new believers because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. In his zeal, Simon wanted this power to lay on hands so that people might receive the Holy Spirit. Whether he wanted it to make himself look good or so that even more people might come to know the Holy Spirit or both, we do not know. It may have been a noble quest or it may have been a self-centered request. A real problem was that Simon thought that he could buy this gift. He did not yet know Jesus enough to know that the gifts that are given us were purchased by His blood. They cannot be bought.

A few years ago, I tried encouraging an elderly woman to return to worship now and then, as she was able. She had no problem getting around; but, no longer drove so I promised to pick her up. She did not want to go. Her response was "I paid my dues." I reminded her that we cannot buy salvation. She was a very lovely woman and it made me very sad to think that her relationship with Jesus all these years had been a relationship built on the law and not the graceful love of God. She, had indeed been very faithful in attendance when she was younger. But, I wondered, had she really heard and understood the message of God's gift of love to her, in His Son, Jesus the Christ. Had she accepted Jesus Christ as her one and only savior?

When Peter and John pointed out Simon's sin in thinking he could purchase God's gifts, it appears that he repented and grew from the lesson, as he asked for prayer. May we all be willing to accept that our works will not purchase for us any of God's gifts. May God help us to, day be day, grow in relationship with Him, our Father, our Savior, our Counselor.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Luke 23:26-31 Take Up Their Cross

Luke 23:26-31 NIV
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children." (vs 28)

Life is tough! What makes it even sadder, at times, is that some don't seem to have enough of a clue about the reality of what is going on in their children's life to even weep for them. They are just too busy to be able to notice what is going on. They do not comprehend what the children are going through and have even less of a clue how to help them.

A part of the solution can be found in today's reading. Simon Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross for Jesus. Do you love your children, your neighbor, your spouse enough to help carry the load when they are stumbling under the weight of it? This is not about covering up their sins for them. It is about setting aside your own desires (not by compulsion; but, out of love) so that you have the time and the energy to help others carry their cross. It is about teaching the way in which they should go and then and only then will they know real peace. And... the way is the way of the cross. Show them that your love for them is so great that you would carry their cross for them and they will, in time, have the courage and strength to do the same for others.

Life is tough. But, it doesn't have to be as tough as it is, at times. Help carry your loved one's (and even your enemies) cross and make their load a little lighter.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 30 - Who is Agur?

Our last few weeks during our Wednesday Bible Study at Zion, Skanee, has been interesting. We are studying "Acts of the Apostles" and are trying very hard to keep all the names straight. So many men had the same name and others had them changed. Simon is Peter or Simon Peter not to be confused with the other Simons. Mark is John Mark or John who is also called Mark, not to be confused with John the Baptist or the Apostle John who was exiled to Patmos.

So who is the Agur son of Jakeh whose sayings we read in Proverbs, chapter 30? We don't know. That's it. We really don't know. This name is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. The first verse is a little confusing in light of the rest of the sayings attributed to Agur. "I am weary, God, but I can prevail." Then he goes on to say that he has no understanding and asks God, who does, to help him. How then can he say that he can prevail? It is not he, but God who prevails for him. It is the son, whom Agur speaks of in verse 4, that prevails for us all. It is the Son, Jesus the Christ, who prevails for us all.

So who is Agur son of Jakeh? He was a man inspired by the Holy Spirit to confess that he was but a brute, who lacked understanding and wisdom. That he could not know the knowledge of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J