- Go with God
- Hold on
- Back to the beginning
- Considering others
- What is the world coming to?
- No justice, no peace
- A necessary intermission
- God help us
- Ripe fruit
- One more time
- Beware jealously
- Trusting God with our whole life
- The power of forgiveness
- Ask Jesus
- Don’t take the bait
- Be righteous
- Enough to start
- Yield
- Mercy
- Is anything happening?
- As we go
- An open heart
- Faith in action
- Reject rejection
- God is our dad
- Loving our enemies
- Let’s go
- Trial by fire
- Active patience
- Right this way
- Finally
By, Isam Itson III
Matthew 4:18-20 – 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. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
The fishermen were rough men with calloused hands and sun darkened faces. In Luke 5:1-11 we learn that Jesus had preached to a crowd on the shore from one of the boats while Peter and his crew were washing their nets after a full night of fishing. When Jesus finished teaching the crowds he asked Peter to put out into the deep and drop his nets.
Peter was an experienced fisherman. He knew that what Jesus was asking him to do made no sense. You always fish at night. But because he respected Jesus, Peter followed his lead. And the catch of fish was the biggest he had ever seen. His crew could barely pull the nets in and they needed help from some nearby boats to pull the haul to shore.
At this point of miraculous God given success in his business, Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow him and start reaching out to people in his name. Jesus wants to do things in our lives that are miraculous beyond our wildest imagination. He wants to meet us where we live, show us we can trust his provision for us, and begin transforming us into agents and representatives of his kingdom.
Jesus does not demand that we submit to his will. He invites us to surrender to his will for our good, the good of others, and the praise of God’s glory. Peter heard Jesus’ words. He followed Jesus’ lead in his business. He experienced the power, faithfulness, and wisdom of Jesus while he was still a fisherman. Then, Peter realized he could trust Jesus with his life.
Followers of Christ are called into the extraordinary while living their ordinary lives. Peter was not trained for teaching the scriptures or public speaking. He was not a recognized spiritual powerhouses in the community. He was a regular person presented with an extraordinary opportunity, and he trusted that Jesus could do something beyond his own ability or life experience.
Our past does not matter. Our willingness to trust God with our lives and livelihood and to move forward today matters. Do we trust God enough to follow Him into the unknown? Are we willing to move forward step by step? Will we stick with Jesus no matter what? When we blow it, will we humble ourselves, repent, and move forward? Followers of Jesus Christ trust him to do the impossible in spite of their imperfections. Don ‘t underestimate what God can do through someone you may think is hopeless or beyond redemption. Especially if that person is you.
In response
1. Ask God what he wants you to do.
2. Follow his lead in pursuit of what he reveals to you.
3. Treat everyone you meet as honored by God and potentially fit for God’s work.