Good Morning Friends,
The most amazing thing in the Bible… and there are a lot… maybe even more powerful than the mystery of the resurrection… more spectacular than the miracles of Moses… more exciting that Peter catching a boatload of fish is the totally unexpected but amazingly merciful actions of Christ. It seems foolish on the surface of it but terribly wise guidance for our time and people as well. And it is this: Jesus had all sorts of worldly reason to, but regardless of how people treated him he never hated anyone!! Meditate for a moment on the reality that his love never gives ups and then ask yourself a question regarding fools, factions and our freedom. Friends, What Incredible Growth Would Come To Our Culture If We Would Not Give In To Fear And Loathing?
Scripture: Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (NRSV)
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 24 (NRSV)
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 5: 1-11 (NRSV)
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Matthew 4:19 (NRSV)
Message: Today we look at the connection of being a disciple of Christ and following the wise ways of growing in our faith of God in purposeful relationships with others knowing that there is just one of you and only one of me. The lectionary text is about growing up in Christ and embracing a new identity that is not only reformed but transformed. Of course, we naturally are to wonder what we are transforming into. Friends, serving Jesus is not always easy. The thing is we get distracted by that person who cut us off in traffic or by someone close to us that has an addiction and we love them but find it painful to be with them, and then we turn on the news and realize it is about everything that is going to kill us, from the water we drink to the latest disease, or a weather event, or the terrorist in a foreign country we have never visited. And then we get a nice commercial advertising an anti- anxiety drug. What is the matter with us? What we take for normal is so messed up. Friends, we love our liberty but loose it when we get offended about anything and everything or worse yet when we are surrounded by people who think they are entitled to everything at someone else’s expense. Maybe we have come to think all this high anxiety is normal because we have become accustomed to it, but know this, we were designed to stand our ground in a very different life. We all walk the same earth. We all breathe the same air. And we all have the same number of hours in a day. We are connected and our isolation response to the addictions of the world cannot work forever. The problem is that we were raised thinking we were the best, but the world does not necessarily think so. And despite what the evening news has to say, the world neither loves us or hates us. Maybe FDR was right. What we must fear is fear itself for if we are going to build upon the firm foundation of Christ, we cannot do a very good job of it if we are an emotional mess. Friends, we live in a culture of self-delusion and false freedom. Real freedom is great when we know what we have been emancipated from, and I am of the mind that way too many people have forgotten that it is the Spirit that releases us from all forms of bondage. Friends, no person in this world attains freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. Choosing to love and not hate is hard work but it is worth it for that is the only way to be successful fishing for people to glorify God. Friends, we are to be faithful fisherman. When Jesus speaks, we are to listen. Where the Lord leads, we are to go. What the Lord gives us we are to make available in service to the Kingdom. That is freedom. Otherwise we are just a bunch of poor people surrounded by a lot of money.
And So, I think we should examine our lives to see if we are exhibiting the characteristics of a people pleasing God but not get so legalistic about it to fail to enjoy life. And perhaps the first place to work on this is being who we are and knowing who we are and being ok with who we are to become. This is part of the goal of the Christian life. But it is also a goal to see if our spiritual labors are producing God-pleasing characteristics in the lives of others and practical results as we go fishing in the deep waters of faith. That is what Jesus is getting at with the disciples. That is what Paul is praying for in the lives of the people of Corinth. Perhaps the first thing we are to realize is that we will be known by our fruit of the Spirit and by this, I mean love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. But not everyone is patient and kind and gentle by nature. You see, true disciples of Christ bear fruit that glorifies God. And this means picking up our crosses, abiding in Christ and the Word and as a priority living for Jesus sharing the love and forgiveness we have received. But it also means avoiding the fear and loathing that comes with the territory when we hate. So, we are to evaluate our lives. We are to grow in the unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature spiritually but also spiritually unique. If so, we will be strengthened in a way that God can use to improve the lives of others. We will not become Christ, but we will become and be aware of who God made us to be… heirs of God. So, Discipleship is more than teaching truths about the Bible. It is being involved in people’s lives with love and this produces the highest return on investment that anyone can achieve. When the Lord gives us this blueprint, in the form of nudges to help us and to help others, we grow in spiritual maturity as disciples. And He commands us to make disciples, repeating the process that he first began in the lives of his own disciples. Friends, the plan for our salvation and growth is found in the example of Jesus but also in excepting and being honest about who we are in relationship with God and others. If we do this the world in which we live becomes a better place.
Pray we grow in the love of Christ. Pray we submit to the higher calling. Pray we pay greater attention to conversations that make us healthier. Pray we praise God that the Spirit gives us the liberty to be freed from the powers of evil in the world. Pray we stop getting offended about anything and everything. Pray we realize that the only time we are going to be free is when we are filled with the Spirit of God’s truth and love. Pray we realize that the wisest path is that which honors God. Pray we realize that the firmest structure is that which is built on the foundation of Christ. Pray we follow the ways of Jesus and cease hating and fearing and loathing and begin exhibiting the characteristics that honor and glorify God. Pray we catch the culture of Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 