Loving God of justice and peace, may Your touch of peace be upon this dear reader's heart so that she or he may be a person of justice with all; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Mark 1: 14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: 15 "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message." 16 Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. 17 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." 18 They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed. 19 A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee's sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. 20 Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed. (The Message)
What does your diet consist of? And I'm not talking about the "new" diet you resolved to follow until yesterday's playoff games; I'm talking about your intake of thoughts and messages. What message does the music you hear share with you? What message do the news share with you? What message do the televisions shows you watch give you about life and morality? What reading materials have you had that gave you inspiration to do and live better? I ask because it is important to ask. If you surround yourself with negative messages or messages that influence you to live less than the way God would have you live, then you know you should be asking yourself, why? Consider the world during the First Century when Jesus walked and taught and preached and did miracles. It was a dismal place. The religious people were no different nor any better than those who did not believe. The message from the holy places was a iist of Do Nots (I know it's early but that is do not in plural form, not donuts!). People's lives were not being changed because there was no message of hope nor power to change. That's why Jesus' sermon as shared in this language says, "Change your life and believe the Message." The "message" refers to what other versions call gospel. And gospel as we know refers to Good News. John the Baptist started sharing that message and here comes Jesus to seal the deal. And as Jesus begins His ministry He knows that He will need those who are ready to help in sharing and taking the message to others. Here we read that Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew, with the invitation to become fishers of others. They were primsed and ready to follow as some believe that they were disciples of John the Baptist. They had heard of the One who was coming and in seeing Him and hearing His invitation, they followed. The same happened with James and John. They hear the invitation and they too, follow. Their lives were changed, never to return to what they had been before.
What about you? You must have heard about the Good News which is why you're reading this, or, someone has shared this with you because they care about you and your life. The Good News says that we can change for the better. We can let God have reign over our inner being and lead us away from destruction and death to life and the fullness of life through Jesus Christ even today. This goes beyond a simple New Year's resolution, it goes to a personal revolution overthrowing the bad and accepting the presence and power of the good from God. Are you ready? Do you want it?
PRAYER: Loving God, let the revolution begin in me now, as I overthrow the negative and the bad that is leading me to certain death. Help me in my choices to choose the good and positive and the things that lead to life. Let this apply to physical and spiritual things alike in my life and body. I want to be a person who knows, loves, and serves You. I cannot do it alone, I need You, and I lift this prayer up in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
