Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Today’s Reading  |  Matthew 4:18–25
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. (NRSV)      

Reflection
I find it interesting that these two passages are next to each other in the Bible in the sense that they are two different ways of following.

When Jesus calls his disciples in the first passage, all four disciples come without question. However, in the second passage, Jesus earned quite a following from the acts of good deeds that he did. People saw the visual work of what Jesus was doing.

I feel this can be true of life in general. Sometimes it is easier to take a path where we know the outcome. Those following Jesus came from wide and far because they were able to see that he could heal the sick and take away pain. Would they have come, though, if only based on a promise that Jesus would offer this in his perfect time?

The disciples left without question what they were doing: they were called and they followed. One of the most important things that God calls each of us to do is to trust him. God wants that so badly from each of us, just to have complete faith in his plan for our life. Once or twice God has definitely shown me a road that I needed to take. My instinct said, “This is the right thing,” yet my own desires steered me off. I cannot say that I come as soon as I know what God wants. I do not faithfully walk down the path that is directed for me. Sometimes I feel I need valid proof from God to see the outcome of my choice in following him like the people from Galilee.

There is a beautiful proverb that I love that says “Weave in faith, and God will find the thread.” Take that leap and God will bless you.

Prayer
Lord, my faith waivers on my desires. I pray this day you fill my heart with enough of your spirit that I never have to question all that is divinely planned for my future. In your name. Amen.

Written by Ashley Elskus, Director, Center for Life and Learning

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email