It was snowing hard the morning I left for work in early March 2021. It took me by surprise; it was not just a light dusting; it was really coming down.
I lived out in the country, near a boat ramp in Southern Oregon and as I passed the entrance, I saw a truck pulling in, hitched to it was a boat. My first thought was, "Now that’s dedication!"
Just a few seconds later, I passed another truck pulling a boat. I could not help but smile and shake my head, thinking, "These guys are crazy!" The fact that they loved fishing so much, they would ventured out on the water in the snow; that is true commitment!
It’s Christmas Eve and I am now living in SE Alaska. As I think about the birth and life of Jesus Christ, I am reminded of how extremely important it is to accept Him as our Savior. Jesus came to earth to save us certainly, but He also came to earth to be our example.
"For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:15 ESV
"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 ESV
I pray that we follow His example. That we would have that same kind of passion in our relationship with God. That we would be willing to go the distance to meet with Him, to spend time in His presence. That we would relentlessly seek Him, no matter what obstacles or distractions stands in our way.
My prayer is that, like those fishermen, we would not let the unexpected storms of life stop us. That when the going gets tough, we would stay focused on our purpose. That we would keep pressing forward, even if others thought we were crazy for doing so.
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus called some real fishermen to follow Him and become “fishers of men.”
Amazingly, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, without hesitation, dropped everything, their boat, their nets, their livelihood, and followed Jesus! Friend, we are called to do the same.
In verses 21 and 22, Jesus called James and John. They too left everything behind, including their father, to follow Christ.
Such power in that! Such commitment!
But what does it mean to be a fisher of men? It simply means sharing the gospel; to spread the message of eternal salvation and the love of Jesus with a world that does not know Him. It means offering hope, pointing others to the Heavenly Father who loves beyond measure, and to His Son who gave His life for us.
What love!
I want to encourage you to fully surrender your life to Jesus. Let Him lead in every area of your life. He is coming soon, and while no one knows the day or hour, the signs are all around us. Jesus is coming, and He’s coming soon!
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
Merry Christmas.
by Jeanette Stark – Tuesday, December 24, 2024
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