Pastor Mikes Daily Devotion Sunday January 4, 2015 Matthew 4:19, Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I once heard a Pastor explain why a fisherman would make a good Apostle. He said that the position of Apostle closely resembled that of a fisherman in that there was the need to constantly cast your net, and mend your net. When the Lord called Peter and his brother Andrew to the ministry, they were casting their nets, and when He called James and John, they were mending their nets. Their lives reflected their calls. When we see Andrew in the scriptures, he is constantly bringing someone to Christ. The first time Peter casts his nets out, three thousand souls are saved (Acts 2:41). Little is known of the Apostle James ministry because he was martyred so soon after the Lords ascension, but the Apostle John had a Pastoral ministry of mending lives through discipleship. Our callings and our ministries will be based on the same thing the Apostles were - following Jesus. What does it mean to follow Jesus? Those who are true followers of the Lord will follow Him in obedience. This means to live your life in obedience to His word through all the seasons of your life, for all of your life. You will be required to leave behind past priorities, valued relationships, and previous plans. Those who will follow Jesus will have experienced a real repentance. This is a heartfelt mourning because of your sinful nature and passion to be more like the Lord. If you want to be a model of His grace, you have to have a mind of repentance. To follow Jesus you will need to have a mind of submission. There is a difference between obedience and submission, and both are necessary. To be submitted is to take the next step after obedience. Obedience can be done unwillingly and in disagreement. Submission is done unconditionally with joy and in faith. Submission is never really submission unless you have a better idea but forsake yours for His. Lastly, to follow Jesus means to have a mind of trust and perseverance. Knowing that as the Lord has called you and commanded you, He will also keep you. We see these things in the Apostles testimonies; do you see them in yours? Exodus 4:11–12, So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:12:56 +0000
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