Matthew 4:18-20
¹⁸Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
When Christ began to preach, he also began to gather disciples. Disciples are the ones who learn, in other words His pupils. They should hear what He has to say, and listen to His words, and witness His miracles.
And afterwards, when they had learned and seen, they should become preachers of his doctrine, and testify concerning His deeds.
Jesus didn’t go to Herod’s court to find His disciples. Nor did He go to Jerusalem to find them among the chief priests and the elders, but He went to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen.
Ofcourse it was also possible for Jesus to call disciples from between the scribes and pharisees, for with God nothing is impossible. But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:27
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.
Diligence in an honest calling has never been a hinderance to a holy life, but idle people are more open to the temptations of satan, than to the calls of God.
Matthew 24:44-46
⁴⁴For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. ⁴⁵Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
When Christ returns, it is good to be found doing the things He asked you to do.
Am I still in the christ? Is the Christ still in me?
Important questions we have to ask ourselves now and then.
And, next to that, Am I already, or still, in my calling?
John 1:35-37
³⁵Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
These two disciples had followed John before, but now is was their time to leave their calling, and follow a higher calling.
If you want to follow the Christ, you must, at his command, also be willing to leave all things behind to follow Him,
Matthew 10:37-38
³⁷He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
At this instance the Lord Jesus encourages you to depend upon His grace. As God wants to reconcile mankind to Himself through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
¹⁸Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Therefore, He is also looking for those who are willing to become his pupils, and are willing to be trained, and used to win souls for His Kingdom.
▪︎ You may not need to leave your profession, like Peter and Andrew, for He is also able to teach you how to use your profession to win souls for Him.
▪︎ And you may not need to make far journeys, like Paul, for He can also enable you to testify of Him wherever you are.
Often all you need to do is to follow Jesus’s leadership, and be ready to learn from Him, and apply what He teaches you.
Dear friends, He was able to use Peter, Andrew, John, and James, who were mere fishermen, to win souls. So He also can use you if you are willing to follow Him, and do what He says.
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