Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Mark 1:16-20 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
REPENT AND BELIEVE ... AND FISH
Jesus not only called upon people to repent and believe in Him. He also called certain men to follow Him as His pupils and to later be His emissaries, His representatives.
These men were fishermen and common folk like you and me. How could they ever hope to preach like Jesus?
Jesus called them to follow Him that they themselves might hear and believe and be equipped to later proclaim the same message of sin and grace. They were themselves called to repentance and faith that in the same way they might call others.
Jesus has also called you to repent and believe, and using His Word to call others to do the same. This is how God Himself has determined to save humankind. This is the preaching that saves. This is how men are caught for Christ for time and eternity.
Jesus said, "Come after me, and I will make you fishermen of men." This is a different kind of fishing. I don't know about you, but usually when I catch fish it doesn't turn out well for the fish. Usually when we catch fish they do not benefit, they die.
When men are caught for Christ, they are delivered from sins and from eternal death and granted eternal life. This is indeed a different kind of fishing.
Now that you've been caught, you are to serve Christ by helping to catch others. This is our message: "See your sin ... now see your Savior Jesus." So ... pass it on. May God who has given us the message also give us the will and earnest desire to share it.
