GO FISH

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-22

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

One of the most exciting parts of being a Christian is the opportunity to be used by the Lord in powerful ways to help bring others to Him to find their way to relationship and subsequent salvation. All of have special gifts that were instilled in us to be revealed and used in God’s perfect time to fulfill His will.

Some people are gifted speakers. Others are gifted writers. Still others may have the gift of discernment…or the gift of making music…or the gift of encouraging. I could go on and on but you get the point. The key for all of us is never discounting what the Lord has placed within you so that He might use you toward a wonderful, blessed purpose.

In our scriptures today, we find a perfect example of Jesus revealing His purpose and will to who would become His first disciples. We read that He was “walking beside the Sea of Galilee” when He “saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew”. Scripture tells us they were “casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen”. In other words, they made a living by putting to work their skills as fisherman to catch fish. Jesus had a further application for their talents.

For we read where Jesus asks Simon Peter and Andrew to “Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men." They were already proficient at dedicating themselves to catching fish but no amount of fish could rival the value of one saved person. One can’t help but think that the Holy Spirit overwhelmed Simon Peter and Andrew as they considered the call of Jesus. I say this because they didn’t stand around and think about whether they should go. There was no debate. Instead, we read where they “left their nets” at once and followed Jesus. There was work to do far beyond fishing.

Jesus followed this by moving on and finding two others…the brothers James and John. Ironically, they too were fishermen and “were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets”. In other words, the brothers were at work and not alone but with their father. But you see, the Father’s call was more powerful and carried more influence. We know this because Jesus “called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him”. Again, no amount of fish could exceed the value of what following Jesus and being used by Him to catch others represented.

Friends, as we continue this Lenten journey and seek to draw nearer to Jesus, let us leave everything behind and follow Him…just as the first four disciples did…using the gifts that the Lord has placed inside us. Maybe you’re doing this already. Maybe you need to get started. Either way, Jesus stands by ready to train us, teach us and show us where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do. We need only be fully obedient and ready to be used as an instrument of His will…open to giving everything for Him just as He gave everything for us.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com