The challenge

From that time Jesus began to preach his message: ‘Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!’

As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net. Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.’ At once they left their nets and went with him. (verses 17-20)

Read Matthew 4: 12-23

When I attended a Christian college, it was not uncommon for students to be taken aside and issued with a challenge. One of our teachers would chat to us about the gifts we possessed and then suggest that we might use our talents in the church as a pastor or teacher. You had a choice: to serve God through some normal job or to follow Jesus into a special Christian ministry.

The same thing happened to Peter and Andrew. The day Jesus walked past them as they were fishing was probably not the first time they had seen him, since he was already preaching in public. He apparently had kept an eye on them too. So this day he issued a challenge to them to become missionaries. They accepted.

You too ought to think about this. Is God calling you to a special ministry in the church? If so, don’t be afraid to down tools immediately to take up his work. It’s a big decision, certainly, but what a great privilege to be given the offer!

Lord, help me to see clearly what you would like me to do with my talents, either in life generally or in a special calling in your church. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Assurance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2004)

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