Perspectives

Mark 1:16-20… 16) As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18) At once they left their nets and followed him.  19) When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20) Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (NIV)

In our text you and I see Jesus walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. But we soon realize this was more than a just a simple casual afternoon stroll. Christ was looking for people. He found Peter and Andrew, James and John. They were fishermen. They were just ordinary people. They were not trained in the Jewish religion, as Scribes or Priests. They were not Rabbis. They were just common folks, people like you and me. But apart from all the others whom Jesus could have called, He called these. It is as if Jesus wanted to make a statement to all of us that anyone can be used by Him for His purpose. Here He found four, and He called them.

1Corinthians 1:26… God delights in calling ordinary people when He says, “brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” (NIV) In other words, those characteristics which the world prides itself in having, God is able to create in the most humble of us. The kind of people He delights in using… just ordinary people. The Gospel is to the poor, the broken-hearted, the needy, and the sinful. It is not for the proud who say they are without sin; but, it is for those of us who hungers and thirsts for righteousness.

1Peter 1:2… Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (NIV) What Peter is saying that we are members of this chosen group… we are the Chosen People of God. Surely there can be no greater mark of respect and privilege in the entire world than to be selected by God.

However, we must also recognize our responsibility. God always selects people for His service. The honour which He gives to us is that of being used for His purposes. It is precisely here that we often fail. It is a constant struggle for us to make sure that we do not fail. We sometimes feel we are exiles in this world. We know we cannot withdraw from this world and we should not. It has been wisely said that the Christian must be apart from the world but never unapproachable, never detached from it.

The Christian is to be consecrated by the Holy Spirit. I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. For the Christian the Holy Spirit is essential to every part of the Christian life and every step in it. It is the Holy Spirit who awakens within us the first faint longing for God and righteousness. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin and leads us to the Cross where that sin is forgiven. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to be freed from the sins which have us in their grip and to gain the qualities which are the fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22-25) It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and that Jesus Christ is Lord. The beginning, the middle and the end of these Christian lives are the work of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we have been chosen for obedience, for faithfulness to our call. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Christians are called into a new relationship with God. We believe, and have the assurance from the Holy Spirit in our heart that the sins of the past are forgiven, and that we now pledge our obedience until Christ calls us home.

Would you pray this prayer with me? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that fulfills my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name. Amen”