KEY SCRIPTURE Matthew 4:18-22
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
RELEVANCE
As He called the disciples, the Lord called us to be fishers of men and women. How is your role going?
And while we're on that subject, how are your other roles of a sheep, budding priest-king, warrior, saint (Holy One), and heir going?
As a sheep? 1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Do you faithfully follow your Shepherd as a sheep without any other master would?
What about a spiritual priest? 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" Do you still show forth the praises of the person who brought you out of darkness? To whom do you show them forth? Who is aware of your praises?
And warrior? Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Is your armour keeping the Devil at bay, or is he often breaking through your defence?
Saints (or Holy Ones. Gk G40) Ephesians 5:3. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;." Do your eyes, mouth, mind and heart still let you down, or are they blinkered and harnessed and given to the Lord?
And, of course, joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;."
The question to all of us is, are we focused and taking our roles seriously? Or have we fallen into a more casual pace and slowed down like those who rebuilt the wall in Nehemiah's time? have you gone off the boil? Are you enjoying too much of this world? Have you left the faith?
God explains in 1 Timothy 3:6 that He won't elevate novices to high positions. Neither God nor the ministry can afford it; we will find we can't. Rethink your first desire when God saved you, and stoke up that fire until it's white-hot. At some stage, time ends, and whatever situation we're in remains static, with no further opportunities.
We're called to follow Jesus—our Saviour- from mere sheep to Joint-heirs. This magnificent calling is too difficult for the human mind to imagine, so some of us don't.
If we spent some time thinking about the possibility of such a grand future, we would run. We would cast aside all the weights and sins that so easily beset us and run to obtain the prize. We would push obstacles out of the way to get there. Nothing would stop us from reaching that pearl of great price, that crown of glory. Nothing!
PRAYER
Dear Lord, the urgency for action is hard on my heart. Please help me cast all aside to follow your calling, to rekindle the fire until it is burning within at such a temperature that all the rubbish will burn off, and the pursuit of Jesus will be my foremost desire.
Photo by Cassiano Psomas
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