Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done: Jesus Invites Others To Join His Journey
Matthew 4:18-22
While walking 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 fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Thought for Today
As Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee, He doesn't do it alone, He invites others to join Him. In today's text we see Jesus inviting fishermen; Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. Miraculously all four respond to Jesus' invitation by immediately leaving their worldly means of livelihood, their boats and fishing gear. James and John additionally leave their father. How might you respond to a complete stranger 'inviting' you to join him in 'fishing for men' and leaving your means of livelihood and even family? The text says they left 'immediately', no time to reflect or think about this invitation. They simply obeyed and followed Jesus. Wow!
Jesus shared the invitation, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”. Jesus invited these humble men maybe because they didn't bring spiritual or religious baggage. We have His Word and are blessed with the gift of literacy and some level of knowledge of His Word. Might Jesus consider us to have some level of baggage? Would He invite me, you?
We live in a different time. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, We have God's Word in 66 books, The Bible. It's imperative that we be open and ready to join in His ministry, His command to “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”. Hebrews 13:21 tells us that He will 'equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.'. So we are to lean upon Him, the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us by opening our heart and understanding as we pray, study, discern and grow in His Word. We are to be ready to share this great gift with others by sharing our story of salvation and transformation. Are you ready? Excited? Anxious? Remember, we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit and our Immanuel brothers and sisters along side us and cheering us on. The more connected you are the stronger in Him you will be.
Prayer
Jesus, I want to join in Your invitation to be a fisher of men and women. Help me to understand how I can best join You in this great invitation. Equip me, guide me and bless me with courage and the right words to tell my story of You in my life. Amen
Devotional Quote
Again Jesus stopped. "Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslim, Democrats, Republicans, and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some were bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved."
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done: Jesus Invites Others To Join His Journey
Matthew 4:18-22
While walking 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 fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Thought for Today
As Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee, He doesn't do it alone, He invites others to join Him. In today's text we see Jesus inviting fishermen; Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. Miraculously all four respond to Jesus' invitation by immediately leaving their worldly means of livelihood, their boats and fishing gear. James and John additionally leave their father. How might you respond to a complete stranger 'inviting' you to join him in 'fishing for men' and leaving your means of livelihood and even family? The text says they left 'immediately', no time to reflect or think about this invitation. They simply obeyed and followed Jesus. Wow!
Jesus shared the invitation, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”. Jesus invited these humble men maybe because they didn't bring spiritual or religious baggage. We have His Word and are blessed with the gift of literacy and some level of knowledge of His Word. Might Jesus consider us to have some level of baggage? Would He invite me, you?
We live in a different time. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, We have God's Word in 66 books, The Bible. It's imperative that we be open and ready to join in His ministry, His command to “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”. Hebrews 13:21 tells us that He will 'equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.'. So we are to lean upon Him, the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us by opening our heart and understanding as we pray, study, discern and grow in His Word. We are to be ready to share this great gift with others by sharing our story of salvation and transformation. Are you ready? Excited? Anxious? Remember, we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit and our Immanuel brothers and sisters along side us and cheering us on. The more connected you are the stronger in Him you will be.
Prayer
Jesus, I want to join in Your invitation to be a fisher of men and women. Help me to understand how I can best join You in this great invitation. Equip me, guide me and bless me with courage and the right words to tell my story of You in my life. Amen
Devotional Quote
Again Jesus stopped. "Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslim, Democrats, Republicans, and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some were bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved."
― William P. Young, The Shack
Quote of the Day
“Ask God to use you. Ask Him to show you how you can be a blessing everywhere you go. Keep honoring Him so that others can see Him through you.”
― Germany Kent