Meditation

01/08/2021

“’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once hey left their nets and followed him.” (Mark1:17–18)

This is a pure call to evangelism. For those whom Jesus called in His earthly ministry, this is how He called His disciples.

There have been a myriad of ways He called me to serve Him since. Sometimes it is through a dream as people sleep, sometimes it may be in a crowd of people, that He calls people to do his will and no one around them even hears it. For me it was in the midst of what I thought I was supposed to do, and I wasn’t listening. I walked out the front door of a church and He stopped me and I felt myself being gently sat down. The words were more in my head than audible, but I was told exactly what He wanted me to do. So, what has He told you to do, and are you doing it?

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, what it is that You wanted me to do, was to serve not only my community, it was to serve youth of all ages and backgrounds. Each of us is part of Your plan, and we must be doing what it is we are directed to do. We all have different gifts, but it is more important that we use our gifts in the manner directed. The only way for us to know for sure, is to be in prayer each day praising You and asking if we are still doing what it is that You called us to and if not, guide us back onto the path that You want us to be on, doing what it is You called us to do. This is our prayer today, that we are serving you in the manner we are supposed to be doing so, and that we love You as much as ever. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“You can learn something from every person you meet.”

KNOWING GOD:

“And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing them. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will sen you far away to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 22:20-21)

Crisis moments call us to God. Paul was not converted by Stephen’s preaching. He took up the persecution of the church.

The witness of Stephen’s martyrdom deeply influenced Paul. It was a first step to his call to witness to Gentiles. God’s call leads us each of us to a specific evangelistic task. We are responsible to carry out that task. As we do, w are to use every opportunity to share Christ with others.

I AM:

“Although I am less than the least of all. God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians3:8)

Paul always reveled in his call to reach the lost for Christ. In principle, that call comes to every believer. We thus should revel in the fact we can share the gospel and help others to our Lord. We are not worthy; it all comes through His grace and mercy. Ephesus is a missionary letter to Christians in Ephesus and surrounding regions.

Paul gloried in the fact that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. His message to the Gentiles or the nations was to be the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” Paul’s mission was to reveal to all people that the way to God was open to all peoples in Christ Jesus. Once Paul knew that the gospel was meant for all peoples, he was driven to share it. Since as Christians today we understand both that the gospel is for all peoples and that two thirds of our world does not even claim to follow Jesus, we find a tremendous impetus to reach from our home community to the ends of the earth with the good news of Christ.

SECOND THOUGHT of the DAY:

“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said,’Received the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” (John20:21-23)

Jesus sent the church to evangelize the world. The church carries forward the ministry God gave Jesus. The church’s witness is possible only as we experience the Holy Spirit’s power.

In that power our testimony confronts people with salvation in Christ. Those who accept Him and find freedom from guilt. Those who reject Him lose the opportunity for forgiveness.