Followers of Christ are Fishers of Men II

Mark 1:14-20

In our devotional yesterday, we talked about the calling of the first disciples Simon, Andrew, James and John, who followed Christ without hesitation and left their jobs and families behind.

Jesus called them to be Fishers of Men from being fishermen. These men were uneducated. You don’t need to get a College degree for you to be very skilful in the line of fishing. Yet, they were chosen by Jesus to become preachers of the Gospel.

In one way or another, we too are given special gifts in the form of talents that God can use for the expansion of His Kingdom. He never requires us to be very good at what we are currently doing. He does not really look into our abilities but he is more interested in our availability.

The four disciples did not have any experience in preaching, nor have they tried speaking in a crowd. But what became of them? They shared the Gospel around without fear at the time of the Acts of the Apostles. What was their first response when they were called? They did not hesitate to follow Him. They made their hearts and whole being available to Christ.

As I pondered on this passage of Scripture, I came to this realization: why was I saved at a young age? If it were only for Salvation, Jesus can do it on my death bed. But why did He call me at a time when I can still walk, talk, write, run, shout, sing and do a lot of things? And this is the answer: Jesus is calling not just me but all Christ-centered believers to work for Christ and to spread the Gospel to all nations.

Let me close this series with a passage in Mark 16:15, He said to them “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.”

Followers of Christ are Fishers of Men

Mark 1:14-20

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. As He walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Jesus said “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther, He saw James and John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay Jesus called them and they left their father with the hired men and followed Him.

When Jesus called the first disciples, the four of them were at work. Simon and Andrew were already casting their nets into the lake. They may have been there for quiet a long time waiting for the nets to be filled with fish. While James and John were still preparing their nets and have not started fishing yet.

If we take a closer look at the two situations, we will notice that at any point or time in our lives, God will call us to do His work, whether we are at the peak of our career or maybe we are just starting to build one.

Others are called by God at the height of their success. But, the question is, what would be our response to this calling? Are we like Simon and Andrew who without a doubt left their nets to follow Him? Are we like James and John who upon hearing the call of Christ, did not hesitate to leave their father and the hired men just to follow Him?

At one point or another, God calls us to draw near to Him. He calls us to follow Him that we too may work for His Kingdom. Are we responsive to that calling?

Out of the hundreds of fishermen at work on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus personally chose Simon, Andrew, James and John because He knew that these four were willing to follow Him no matter what the cost may be. Indeed, they started and ended their lives serving the King of kings.

Do you feel that Christ is calling you to follow Him and be fishers of men? Have you responded to that call? Or is something hindering us to do so. Is it our jobs and our successful career? Or is it our loved ones?

As Christians, we are appointed to spread the Good News of Salvation to all men, so that they too will accept the free gift of eternal life, God has in store for those who believes and that they too will experience his great and everlasting love.

Let us all act now. Let us follow the path of Christ.

As followers of Christ, we are to be fishers of men and we can do it by spreading the Gospel around us.

FALLEN WORLD

Jason Sebas Inso

1Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!"

Who can be certain that he has a very strong Christian faith? Are you sure that you will not fall into Satan’s lies?

Some Christians have this understanding that Satan cannot tempt them because the God that we are worshipping is the maker of heaven and earth. But let me remind you that we are living in a sinful world, a world where immoral, slanderous, liar, self-centered, greedy, and boastful people lives. People are no longer afraid of the consequences of sin…that is the view of our world today…that is REALITY. He who thinks that he stands firmly or securely must not be very confident but must be on guard. A lot of believers have fallen, and we are not an exception. So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul warned us that “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” These are the possible temptations that the people especially the Christians are facing. God wants to tell us that the first step of overcoming such temptations is to be vigilant and to be less confident of the self. Never say “it will not happen to me…”

We are more vulnerable to sin if we think that we will never fall into temptation. Especially if we are too confident that it will not happen to us.
The bible tells us that “when we follow the desires of our sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21NLT). This only reminds us that we are living in a fallen world, and sad to say…sometimes we follow our sinful nature.

Have you encountered temptations such as those mentioned above? Are you struggling with similar warfare?

Please take a few moment right now to pray and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive all your sins because 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Jesus died on the cross so that we may be righteous in the sight of God and that my brothers and sisters is the greatest thing that God has given. Let the Holy Spirit guide your life so that you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves (Galatians 5:16 NLT). Invite the Holy Spirit to direct every area of your being, for He will lead you to the path of righteousness. Pray continually to overcome all these temptations.

Today’s verse reminds us that we must be careful as we walk in this sinful world, and we must not be overly confident that we are standing strong and firm but instead continue to do things that can glorify God.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”(Romans 12:2)

GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

Today's contributor for Word Minute Daily Devotionals: Jason Sebas R. Inso

Putting the End in Mind

2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
A very valuable family collection was missing. It was an expensive antique bottle considered to be a family treasure that would be passed on to the succeeding descendants. But it was nowhere to be found. Later, my niece admitted that she accidentally broke it and threw it away thinking that it was just an ordinary bottle. I was devastated. I did not know how to react. It was one of great worth and value, but it was broken, thrown, disposed as trash.

In the middle of my distress I was reminded of how ephemeral the things of this world are regardless of how precious and expensive they may be, still, one day they will come to an end.

Matthew 6:19 warns us not to store for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Truly, not a single thing on this world lasts forever ‘coz even the heavens and the earth pass away.

Every thing, every creature is bound to end, even us, human beings.

Our verse for today reminds us to fix our eyes not on what we see around us but to look on what is unseen, because everything that we have in our surrounding is temporary, they are all fleeting, but the thing that we do not see is eternal.

The verse teaches us not to set our thoughts captive on earthly material possessions. The bible encourages us in Matthew 6:20 to store up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and were thieves do not break in and steal. This means that if there is something we must set focus on it is fixing our eyes on what is in heaven rather than on keeping valuable things on this earth.

The antique bottle was indeed a family treasure, but when it was broken, it was nothing more than a shattered piece. Somehow, I realized that even if it was preserved, I or my family can never bring it to heaven.

Whatever we have now can never be carried to the next life. But we can enjoy every minute spent on earth by putting the END in mind for the END is the start of another life, a life that is eternal. One that we haven’t seen yet but is something to hope for.

It is a life of rejoicing, praising, and worshipping the Maker of the heaven and the earth, a life with the Saviour who sacrificed all of Him for the redemption of mankind. It is a life without suffering, because when we are there, He will wipe each tear away.

So if we are too busy working for a future on earth, today is the time to slow down, relax and spend time with the Lord, wherever you are, talk to Him. He is more than happy to hear from you.

He cannot be seen but He is there waiting for you.

God bless!

What is Love?

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

I was reminded of the very common definition of Love we had back in High school. “Love is blind”, which means that love does not view imperfections, it does not look at the wrong, it does not notice frailties…and the list goes on…

Proverbs 10:12 tells us what love can do. It covers over all wrongs.

True love allows one to accept the failures of another and to forgive the person even when it is hard. When an offense is committed love conceals and do not expose it for everyone to know. It protects the person from being publicly mocked by keeping a gossip down.

The bible defines love as: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:4-8)

There are other passages in the bible that talks about love such as: “[Love for Enemies] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – (Matthew 5:43-45)

Love is a great thing but we can only love if we have been loved.

The greatest love ever shown was when Jesus Christ gave His life for mankind. And that is true love, and His love covers a multitude of sins…including ours.

In Silence, He Speaks

1 Kings 19:12 “After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

You’ve had a series of problems and depressions, you were being faced with stress and pressure, you were being emotionally and physically drained…And all you can think of is GIVING UP…maybe, some would even consider death as the only resort left…

A great prophet in the bible went through the same struggle. 1 Kings 19 talks about Elijah’s experience on being discouraged and totally depressed. He felt so hopeless and downcast to the point of asking God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah succeeded in showing the greatness of God by praying out loud for fire to come down from heaven in a great assembly at Mount Carmel, where he summoned the people from all over Israel to see the power of the living God(1Kings 18). But there came a point in his life when he got tired of fighting for what he believed in.

Was there ever a time in your life when you feel like giving up because there seems to be no development, there seems to be no change? You keep on fighting yet you end up feeling depressed. You keep on running yet you are always led to bumps and holes causing you to slow down…or maybe, to stop.

The longing to be back in God’s presence was greater than the death he asked for. Elijah sought for the comfort of God and poured out his heart to Him by saying “I’ve had enough, Lord.” (1 Kings 19:4). After days of rest, he went to Mount Horeb hoping to have a touch of God’s presence and be revived. Then there came a sequence of wind, earthquake and fire, which gave an overwhelming and deafening noise but when everything was quiet, there came a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:10-12).

Sometimes, God speaks in the soft and subtle sounds of life. The world is deafening us with the loud shouts of temporary comforts, flashy entertainments, and even false hopes. Yet nothing satisfies.

When you feel that there is no hope left…Go inside your room alone, cry out to God and tell Him everything. Talk to Him as your Father, run to His words of truth…Wait patiently and be still because in the sheer silence you will hear God’s gentle whisper…

Life: A Mere Breath

Psalm 103:15-16 “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”

Life is short. How short? My 27 – yr. old relative was very successful in her career. At a very young age she became an officer in a very distinguished establishment. She was smart, and she excelled in her endeavours. She got married, enjoyed her life as a wife, got pregnant, gave birth and after a few days was overtaken by her high blood pressure. She was gone at the age of 27 years old.

Everywhere, we hear about news of people meeting their fate unexpectedly, leaving us stunned. The bible tells us that the days of man are like grasses and flowers of the field, they grow fast and flourishes wonderfully, but the wind blows on them and they are gone.

We will never know when our time ends. In the New Testament, James describes life as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. He even admonishes us not to boast about plans for the next day for nobody really knows what is going to happen then, he goes on to tell us to be dependent only on the Lord’s will for us (James 4:13 – 16).

Even David prayed “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath (Psalm 39:4-5)”. When that breath is taken away from us, tomorrow is but a goodbye.

How then are we going to enjoy this short life? Live it for God.

God is holy and man is sinful, how can we ever live a life for Him? For God so loved the world (meaning us, men) that He gave His one and only Son Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Not a short life, but an everlasting life, if we believe in Jesus Christ. Believing is accepting that we are sinners in need of a Saviour, whose blood can wash away our sins, and that Saviour is no one else except Jesus Christ the Son of the living God.

We can never be certain on the number of days given to us by our Maker in this temporary fleeting life, but the next life is eternal, and the bible clearly tells us that if we don’t accept the atonement Jesus carried for us on the cross, we will suffer for the punishment that we deserve.

Today’s verse is reminding us of how short our life is, but while we are still alive there is hope of attaining everlasting life in Christ Jesus and that is to humble ourselves before God, acknowledging that we are sinners, and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. He is our only hope and salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Now is the perfect time to accept the gift of salvation that is freely given to us, by God. The grass withers and the flowers fall, the wind blows on them and they’re gone. Life too is like that. Hope is given today and tomorrow may be too late.

Worries Can Bring Us Down

By: Jason Sebastian Inso

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Nobody can say that he is not worried of anything. Worrying is the very nature of man. We worry about ourselves, about other people, or about a lot of things. We usually set our minds to think that we are hopeless and that we have no one to run to, to the point of doing anything or maybe foolish ways just to let the worry disappear.

The bible speaks to us in Proverbs 12:25 that Worry weighs a person down but an encouraging word cheers a person up. Let not these worries become a priority in life. Roger Babson quoted that “if things go wrong, don’t go with them”, for these worries cannot add a single moment of your life and worrying too much accomplishes absolutely nothing.

All we need is to pray with a thankful heart and to present our requests to God which includes our worries, anxieties, and anything that can pull us down. Jesus encourages us to keep on asking, and we will receive what we ask for, to keep on seeking, and we will find what we’re looking for, to keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for us. For everyone who asks, receives. He who seeks, finds and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).

Jesus will open the door for us if we seek Him with all of our hearts, for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). If our hearts and minds are open then the peace of God will guard us in Christ Jesus in whatever we do and wherever we go. His everlasting promise is to never leave us nor forsake us.

It only reminds us that God knows everything we are worried about, and He knows what we are asking even before we ask for it.

Today’s verse tells us not to be anxious but in everything by prayer and petition,
therefore, instead of worrying, let us pray to God by presenting our requests to Him and trust Him to accomplish His very purpose for us. God only wants what is best for us for the greater glory of His name.

As the saying goes, “Don’t worry be happy…” But I prefer, to say, “Don’t worry, be prayerful…” For worries can only bring us down.

God bless everyone!

Contributor for today's Word Minute Daily Devotional: Jason Sebastian Inso

To Forgive is to Forget

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ in God forgave you.”

Commonly used statement I often hear is “I can forgive but I cannot forget…”

Have you forgiven someone but simply cannot forget what that person did to you? How deep was the pain that until now, you still haven’t forgotten what the person did? What’s stopping you from forgetting?

Henry Ward Beecher writes “I can forgive, but I cannot forget is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note – torn in two and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.”

The Bible tells us a story in Matthew 18:21-35 about an unforgiving servant. He owed the King a large amount of money. One day, the King summoned him, demanding that he settle his account but he was not able to pay. So the King ordered that the servant’s wife, children and everything that he had be sold to repay the debt. Then the servant fell on his knees and begged the King to give him more time to produce payment. The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.

But when the servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him money, so he grabbed him and began to choke him demanding for payment. The fellow servant begged him, but he refused to listen, instead he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

In some ways, we are like the unforgiving servant. We have been forgiven by God through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross but when people hurt us, we refuse to forgive them.

Do you know that God delights to show mercy? Micah 7:18-19 provides “Who is a God like you who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us, You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

When we come to God for forgiveness, He throws our sins to the sea of forgetfulness. As far as the East is from the West, so far has He taken our sins from us…that is, if we repent and boldly say to Him that we are sinners in need of a Savior.

Therefore, if the Creator of all has forgiven us, a tiny speck of His creation…If the King of kings has forgiven and forgotten our sins, why shouldn’t we do the same to our fellow human being?

Forgiveness requires a healing process, especially if the wound is too deep. When you need to forgive someone, ask for God’s grace and healing, surrender it all to Him and He will take away every bit of your pain. He will wipe each teardrop and give you His peace.

Remember that because God delights to show mercy, He forgave us. When He forgives, He forgets...