Word@Work 009 - Mark 1:19-20
Published: Thu, 11/22/07
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 1:19-20 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (NIV)
The Christian life inevitably includes a call away from the past. Peter and Andrew were cleaning their nets; James and John were preparing their nets, but Jesus called all four to leave their nets and follow Him.
The call to follow was so authoritative that they obeyed. It made sense to them even though it separated them from the tools of their trade, their primary family loyalty and their financial security. What the Lord Jesus injected into the lakeside beach was the opportunity to fulfil their 'design specification' - to serve and glorify the Lord by doing whatever He wanted them to do. That is the highest purpose of mankind.
Is this an instruction to the modern Christian to leave home and the company car? Probably not, but it is a healthy reminder that whilst the purpose of work is to provide for the family needs - it is not the purpose of life! We 'work to live' but that is not the same as 'living to work'. You see, our life gains its significance - not by what we do, but by why we do it.
We can fill our life with activity but fail to achieve our divine purpose, unless we obey the Lord's instruction. If we refuse to walk into the future shaped by God's call, we will stay in a future shaped merely by our own background.
It may be that the Lord tells us to continue to do the same things as before, but His call will reveal a fresh purpose; we will know we are doing it for Him! For others, the voice of God will lead us into a new adventure with Him and it could be a totally different lifestyle altogether. For all who listen we know that we are working for the King and not for ourselves.
Prayer: Father, if I am working in the knowledge of Your call then please affirm me in it. If I am not, then speak to me about it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The Christian life inevitably includes a call away from the past. Peter and Andrew were cleaning their nets; James and John were preparing their nets, but Jesus called all four to leave their nets and follow Him.
The call to follow was so authoritative that they obeyed. It made sense to them even though it separated them from the tools of their trade, their primary family loyalty and their financial security. What the Lord Jesus injected into the lakeside beach was the opportunity to fulfil their 'design specification' - to serve and glorify the Lord by doing whatever He wanted them to do. That is the highest purpose of mankind.
Is this an instruction to the modern Christian to leave home and the company car? Probably not, but it is a healthy reminder that whilst the purpose of work is to provide for the family needs - it is not the purpose of life! We 'work to live' but that is not the same as 'living to work'. You see, our life gains its significance - not by what we do, but by why we do it.
We can fill our life with activity but fail to achieve our divine purpose, unless we obey the Lord's instruction. If we refuse to walk into the future shaped by God's call, we will stay in a future shaped merely by our own background.
It may be that the Lord tells us to continue to do the same things as before, but His call will reveal a fresh purpose; we will know we are doing it for Him! For others, the voice of God will lead us into a new adventure with Him and it could be a totally different lifestyle altogether. For all who listen we know that we are working for the King and not for ourselves.
Prayer: Father, if I am working in the knowledge of Your call then please affirm me in it. If I am not, then speak to me about it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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