Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Early in Matthew’s Gospel (4:9ff) Jesus said, “I will make you fisher of persons” to the disciples. This was part of His invitation to them. How would you have reacted to such an invitation?
It is never easy to say yes to God and God's invitation in our lives. A careful reading of the lives of the prophets and their positive response to God resulted in some incredibly difficult but fulfilling times for their lives. That's the benefit of saying yes to God, accepting a life of fulfillment and meaning. In yesterday's sermon I shared the Four Spiritual Laws and their use in years back and the first law said basically, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." That's an invitation or at least part of one. To say yes to God's love and God's plan for your life is to say yes to the beginning of a life filled with meaning and purpose.
An honest response to the question of how would we have reacted to an invitation would probably be one of skepticism. "You want me to do what? Right now?" Scholars believe the disciples reacted positively and almost immediately because they had already been exposed to the gospel through John. Some even say that these first disciples may have been among John the Baptist's disciples, thus an invitation from "the Master" was one they could not refuse. If that is true, then it follows that the more we know Jesus and seek to know Him, the easier it becomes to say yes to whatever invitation He may make of our lives.
The points I shared from John 21 and the Resurrection Fishing Story is that the disciples 1) looked to Jesus, 2) they listened to Jesus, 3) were led by Jesus and 4) saw the "fire" lit in anticipation of their success. The same is true for us. If we know and love Jesus, we will look, listen, be led and celebrate in our spirits with all that Jesus will offer to us.
PRAYER: Come, God of invitation to my life. Let me look to you. Let me listen to you and let me be led by you. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
