Thought of the Month - June 2008

Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. 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." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.  Mark 1:16-18 (The Message)

 

I wonder what your ‘regular work’ is. Mine, which I truly never expected to do, is working with the homeless. At least, that is my paid work. My regular work is also as a wife, a mother, a student and a church member. So what is Jesus getting at?

 

Well, I think He is saying that if we go with Him, He will turn our regular work into something out of the ordinary. It will be new, because we will become ‘a new kind of fisherman’. This means what I do is new, because He has made me and what I do new. Why; because I follow Him.

 

The real joy is that He will show me how to do it! And by implication, He will help me to stop doing it the old way (‘instead of’). Even more wonderful is the disciples’ reaction. They didn’t analyse Jesus invitation. They didn’t have a three day conference about it, or a world summit. They simply dropped their nets and followed Him.

 

Today, are you going about your regular work? Do you long for that extra dimension? Drop your nets and follow.

 

Alexis Lloyd: YMCA Norfolk Faith Development Officer