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
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