I Will Make You...

Fishers of Men...

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²²and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. -Matthew 4:18-22

We are all called to follow him, but if we really think about what that means... it's scary. We are called to action... immediate action. Sometimes I'm saddened by the fact that we Christians are "tomorrow" Christians. After this, or after that, I'll do this. When the truth is that for our own sake and the sake of others, the time is now. But I think some of our fear has to do with the fact that we forget Christ's promise, "I will make you fishers of men." It's not the fishers of men part that we forget, but the "I will make you" part. Most of our objections are: I don't think I can, I don't know how, how will I be good enough, what should I do.... but it's not about us, rather God working through us... making us what he needs us to be, if only we let him, if only we follow.

Able to Speak...

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

⁷ But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth."-Jeremiah 1:6-9

This passage from Jeremiah has always been a favorite of mine since I was very young, because I've been called upon to speak by my church quite frequently: during worship service, during Sunday School, at Christmas Eve service, at various conferences. I'm always amazed and appreciative of my church that gave me opportunities to speak as such a young child... probably around 15 the first time. But it wasn't always easy to do... especially presenting at a conference in the DR at age 21, I felt like I was only a child... how could I do this? But God puts the words in our mouths.

Lord, I thank You for using me... what a beautiful blessing. And I ask that You continue to work through me... a shy quiet girl, nothing special about me- it's easy to see Your work in my life, because it could not be me... but You who makes me Yours.