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

Luke 5:1-11 Fishing

Luke 5:1-11 NIV
When Jesus took them fishing, Peter, James and John caught so many fish that their nets were breaking. Then he told them that from then on they would be fishing for people. "So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." (vs 11)

What does this mean to leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Does it mean to spend an hour at Worship on Sunday mornings? Does it mean we share the good news when it's convenient and easy to do? What does it mean to you? These men made their living at fishing. They left their boat and nets and followed to learn a new thing. They left their very livelihood behind to follow Jesus. If they are like most fishermen that I know, they loved fishing. They left this thing that they loved behind them and went off to follow this itinerant teacher and preacher. They trusted that they would not starve to death. They trusted that he would be with them to lead them. They were unafraid to go follow this new vocation: fishing for people.

Jesus is with us. May God grant that He teach us and give us the courage to fish for people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Chronicles 8 - A King from Humble Beginnings

Benjamin's genealogy is small in comparison to the others.  But, again, here is another example of the last being first.  From the last son (Benjamin); from this small tribe, comes the first king of Israel, Saul. (8:33)

It is just one more reminder to us that God calls whom He will call.  And... time and time again, He has and does call those whom the world would least expect to be called.   After a whole history of this calling the least and the last, one would expect that the "church" in Jesus' day would have understood why he ate with sinners and tax collectors; why he called fishermen to follow Him.  After a whole history of this calling the last and the last, one would expect that the "church" today would understand that still; the last shall be first and the first last.  The "church" should probably quit being surprised that He would call the least and the last:  even women and sinners and even fishermen!  Oh my!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that don't every think that you are so little that God cannot use you.  Those who humble themselves are often the first to be used, maybe because their egos don't get in the way of doing God's will. 

God's Peace - Judy