Wednesday 17 June, 2015

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 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.

Jesus called people to turn to God and repent. He also warned people that the Kingdom of God was near. Jesus then calls Simon, Andrew, James and John to follow him. They give up their way of life to do so.

A few things strike me here. Firstly, a sense of timing in fulfilling God’s call. Jesus says, “the time has come.” Secondly, the call was urgent and finally the call involved people. These three things related to Jesus call as well as the call of God upon his disciples. They also relate to believers today. Whatever God has called you to do there will be a timing element. There will also be a sense of urgency or immediacy ie. God hasn’t called anyone of us to a blasé or ho hum life. We see this with the early disciples in that they gave up all they knew including their very livelihoods to follow Jesus. The disciples were called to be fishers of men. We too are called to look out for, listen to and love people thereby showing them the way to Jesus.

Dear Lord, thank you that you called me to follow your son Jesus. Teach me to be fishers of men just like the early disciples. Amen

Written by Ainslie Woods