CALLED TO THIS
Sarah Sloan
Today's Scripture: "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!" Matthew 4:19, ESV
Theme: At The Cove Church, we are committed to personally inviting others into a relationship with Jesus.
FISHERWOMAN
My grandmother was a renowned fisherwoman. She and my grandpa used their life savings to buy a small fishing cabin on a lake in Arkansas. They never swam in the lake or went for joy rides on their boat. To them, fishing was their only pursuit. My dad used to say that when they took you out fishing, you knew that you would be there all day. There was no messing around on the boat and no breaks for snacks or meals. You would wake up at sunrise with the sole goal of sitting in the boat fishing all day. The plan was to wait, to learn the waters, to get to know the fish, and where they would hide.
JESUS’ PROMISE
In Matthew 4:19 (ESV) Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!" I think when we read this, we interpret this more as just something Jesus was saying directly to the fishermen as His way of connecting rather than as a promise to His followers. Was Jesus just a salesman, good at recruiting disciples? Or was there more to His statement?
RADICAL LIVING
I believe Jesus was calling us to radical living. He was casting His net and gathering to Him believers who would make “fishing for men” their primary pursuit. Even now, God calls us to spend time investing in those we encounter, learning their “waters,” getting to know their needs, where they hide, and how to best reach them with the Gospel of Truth. Fishing doesn’t include arguing with the fish, judging the fish, or trying to bang them over their heads with the truth. It takes time, patience, and willingness to seek and meet the fish where they are.
Jesus’ words are a promise, too. If we follow Jesus, He promises to train us and grow us into true fishers of men and women. That means that as we spend time getting to know Jesus, our love for others will grow. Our dependence on Jesus for every word we say will deepen as we pray with others and share about what Jesus has done in our lives. Our courage will develop as we learn to boldly invite others to church and into our Life Groups.
Make It Personal: So, are we ready? The other day as I was driving, Josiah Queen’s new song Make Heaven Crowded came on the radio and the first lines stopped me in my tracks. Josiah sang, “I heard an atheist say no one really believes cause if it was Good News, they'd tell everyone they see...” It's true. We hold within our hearts the very truth of God’s love, freedom, and salvation for everyone, everywhere. If we are followers of Jesus, then we are called to start fishing. Start searching, start telling, and make it your sole pursuit and primary purpose.
Pray: God, I know I don’t always love others well. So often, I put myself and my busyness before everyone and everything else. I want to have Your heart to love others well. I want to have the courage to share boldly, the ability to love others right where they are, and the patience to continue speaking about You and Your love, even if it takes a while for others to accept it. I know You have forever changed my life and made me new. I want everyone to experience Your goodness and Your love. Help me to be a good reflection of You and to shine Your light on everyone around me. In Your Name I pray, amen.
Read: Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
Weekly Memory Verse: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39, ESV