Casting Nets

 Matthew 4:18-22 (KJV)  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.

            Peter…Andrew…James…John…  All famously known now as the disciples of Christ. We know Peter as the impetuous one, the bold talkative one, and also the one who would shrink back in denial. Yet Peter is also called “The Rock” on whom the church would grow. Andrew we recognize as the shy or reserved one. History tells us he was first a disciple of John the Baptist but left to follow Jesus under the encouragement of John the Baptist who recognized Christ as the Messiah. James the Great—a name given to distinguish him from the other disciple, James—one of the two “sons of thunder.” He always seemed to be in the shadow of his brother, yet was also one of the three disciples considered to be in Jesus’ inner circle. John—according to history, the one with the quick temper and harsh words—yet calls himself “the one whom Jesus loved” for traveling with Jesus must have shown him the very essence of the meaning of love for one another.

            We know them; we know their stories. However remember this is who they became. Who were they when Jesus called them? Simple, hard-working, ordinary fishermen doing what they knew how to do. This might be the greatest lesson of all for us. Jesus doesn’t call us because we are great or famous; he calls us because we are simple, hard-working, ordinary folk and he needs us to do what we know how to do. The disciples, to my knowledge, never completely gave up their occupation as fishermen because the Bible records other instances of their fishing (Ex: John 21). What changed is that in addition to being fishermen they became “fishers of men;” that was their priority. We may called to pursue new occupations but that is not the norm. Most likely we will be called to be who we are, and do what we know how to do best, all the while making living for Christ and sharing the gospel with others our priority.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us for the moments we think our abilities or talents are too simple to be of any use to you.  Show us the ways in which we can use those talents, abilities, and gifts to bring others to Christ. While we may not be fishermen, teach us to be fishers of men.

            In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Casting Nets appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

 

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Casting Stones

 John 8:1-11 (KJV)  Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

            And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned; but what sayest thou?

            This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

            So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

            And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

            When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

            She said, No man, Lord.

            And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.”

            Rarely do I write out lengthy passages for devotionals however today my heart told me it was important not to leave out any of the details we so often overlook in this passage. My format for this devotional will also vary from its usual style, but I honestly believe you will be able to glean some golden nuggets of truth to ponder. Today, I will choose to use a simple bulleted style of writing and let you go back through the verses asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding of God’s Word. Take your time. Let it soak in.

• It was early in the morning. Jesus was doing his job—teaching God’s truth to all who would listen.
• The scribes and Pharisees are still up to their old tricks of trying to trap Jesus in controversy. 
•  The scribes and Pharisees still need something concrete to blame Jesus, what better than an adulterous woman? Especially one caught “in the very act” (Which also might beg the explanation from the scribes and Pharisees of where were they and what were they doing? But that’s another story.)
• The woman was placed in the midst—right up front and center, for all to see and condemn—nobody could miss this show.
• Jesus doesn’t speak. He bends low to the ground. They accuse publicly—Jesus responds privately. Dirt became his power point presentation. 
• We have no clue what Jesus wrote. Most biblical scholars agree it could quite possibly have been a list of sins. Whatever the words or symbols…the power point presentation achieved its intended purpose. One by one…they ALL left.
• Do not miss this point:  (v. 9) And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, and even unto the last…  The eldest, those who should have known better, were the first to be addressed.
• The woman is still standing in the place originally intended to shame her. She hasn’t moved an inch. But Jesus speaks directly to her—He speaks directly to her heart.
• She answers Jesus’ question by calling him Lord! She “gets it!” She understands who her Lord and Savior is!
• Jesus gives her first of all a reassurance of forgiveness: “Neither do I condemn thee…” and secondly a new path to follow: “…go, and sin no more.”

Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            All too often we place ourselves in the seat of judging others by their looks, by their appearance, by rumors, by political affiliations, or by any number of other reasons. Forgive us, Lord. For those of us willing to hear your voice speaking to our heart, let us be convicted by our own conscience. Let us go and sin no more. For this we humbly thank you.

            In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Casting Stones appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

 

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Casting Bread

 Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (KJV) Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

            In my younger years I would ponder this verse and think it odd. With images in my mind of feeding ducks at the pond, I knew full well that scraps of bread not immediately consumed would become water-logged and sink. So how could soggy bread ever be found again after many days?

            As we mature, and as we seek the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding of scriptures, we begin to see things we never saw before. In Solomon’s wisdom he used bread as a metaphor for wealth and belongings. This passage speaks clearly of  making wise investments and the uncertainties of life. On one level, it is possible to identify this passage with potential profits in return for wise placement of investments. Giving a portion to seven or eight brings to mind the old adage of not keeping ones’ eggs all in one basket. Yet I believe we might find something even deeper to explore in these words of wisdom.

            Wealth is not always tangible. No one can measure the joy in one’s heart or the love one has for others. Happiness is not really something you can weigh out with measures. What if these are the investments we should be making? What if it is the true Bread—the Word—Jesus we should be sending out far and wide? What if we are to be investing in the Kingdom of God, and to do so in every aspect of our lives? We do not and simply cannot know what the immediate future holds for us, nor the length of days we have left to serve our Heavenly Father. What we do know for certain is that when we invest ourselves in others—be it in faithful prayer, small acts of kindness, encouraging words, written notes, or other means of generosity—the return for our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom will be great. Perhaps this is the best method of casting bread.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides us in wisdom and understanding. Thank you for your Word to bring meaning and purpose for living in the fullness of Your mercy and grace. Abiding in You we learn that no prayer is too small, no concern is too great, no time spent in Your Word is ever wasted, and no act of kindness is ever unimportant. May all our energies, talents, and abilities be invested wisely in your soon-coming Kingdom.

            In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Casting Bread appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com