Title: Have You Responded to This Loving Invitation?
Text:
Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:16-20 (ESV)
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Observation:
Jesus came as a servant. I love the Gospel of Mark because it is a book of action. You can see that at the beginning, and throughout the book. Notice the word "immediately".
Mark 1:12 (ESV)
The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
Mark 1:18 (ESV)
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Today's focal passage highlights the work of Jesus in choosing his disciples. Think about it. Jesus is still calling today people to follow Him, and be His disciples.
These first disciples were not perfect people. They had their faults and failures. Some of them even fell down. However, the key to their success is that they didn't stay down; they didn't quit, except for Judas. Be a Peter not a Judas.
Jesus is still calling people to follow Him. What is your response? Are you willing to repent, and immediately follow Him?
2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
"Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!"
Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/461
Prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I gladly identify myself as a Christ follower. Father, I am so grateful for the work of Jesus in calling, leading, and guiding His followers through the steep and rugged paths we encounter in our journey through this world.
Father God, I am so glad that Jesus is a leader in whom I will never be disappointed because Jesus can do anything but fail. Lord Jesus, I thank you that you specialize in lifting up those who falter, fail, and fall. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
--
Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
4 But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
8 Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.
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