This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of the Series “Fresh Start” – I Have a New Purpose! (WATCH HERE)
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:16-20)
Jesus calls individuals to participate in his purpose: “Change the lives of people with the power of the Gospel.”
For these four men, Simon, Andrew, James and John, their focus in life changed. The focus of their life was now going to be to follow Jesus and embrace his purpose as their own. On that day they left their nets and fishing boats and dad and hired men and followed Jesus. Yet we know that these same men are fishing at different parts of Jesus’ ministry. They didn’t leave their love of fishing, they just loved following Jesus more.
I wonder how Jesus would put it if he came to you today directly and said, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men”? Perhaps for you, you love fishing and that connection would ring true as it did for the four men he called that day. But perhaps you have no interest in fishing and perhaps wouldn’t be caught on a boat if you were given one. What we hear in Jesus’ call to these four men is using their background to bring the Gospel to the foreground. These four would understand the similarities of fishing and working with people to change their lives with the power of the Gospel. It would take persistence. It would take patience. It would involve frustration and storms. It would bring the reward of seeing an individual landed for Jesus and become a follower too.
So, what in your background can Jesus leverage to bring the Gospel to the foreground? Would Jesus say to you, “Come follow me and I will make you a teacher of men?” Will he take your love of learning and sharing knowledge and capture that for opportunities to share and teach the Gospel?
Would Jesus say to you, “Come follow me and I will make you an athlete for the Lord”? Will he take your love for competition, fitness, and team sports and leverage them to build a team of Christians intent on making an impact on the athletic fields for the sake of the Gospel?
Would Jesus say to you, “Come follow me and I will make you a care giver for the Lord”? Will he take your heart of compassion and your skill of mind or body and leverage it to love people when they are ill and encourage them with God’s promises as they are going through tough times?
What we see in Jesus calling fishermen are individuals with skills and interests that will be leveraged for the purpose of changing lives with the power of the Gospel. Yet, Jesus doesn’t just call fishermen. He calls tax collectors, he calls religious leaders, he calls shepherds, he calls farmers, he calls people from all walks of life because he loves to use our background and use it to bring the Gospel to the foreground.
Apply: What part of your background might Jesus be wanting to or is leveraging for the sake of the Gospel and opportunities to share him?
Prayer: Lord thank you for redeeming my background and experiences for the sake of your kingdom and the sharing of your Gospel. AMEN.