THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA FOR TODAY.
The Topic of Daily Fountain Devotional for 30th November 2020 Is ”Called, But not Idle!.”
TEXT: Matthew 4:18-22(NKJV)
18. And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20. They immediately left [their] nets and followed Him.
21. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
22. and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
ANGLICAN COMMUNION DEVOTIONAL OUTLINE FOR 30TH NOVEMBER 2020.
Simon and Andrew; James and John; two brothers in each case: similar trades (fishing); similar request from the Lord (‘come, follow me’); similar responses (at once, immediately, they left…); similar situations or circumstances (a lucrative job to be left behind); similar traits (amazing willingness and swift response); similar sacrifices (for Simon Peter and Andrew, not just the fish, but very major equipment – their nets; and for James and John, possible alienation from their father for gross misconduct and disregard!). As we celebrate St. Andrew today, it is important to remind ourselves of these amazing qualities.
Meanwhile, having just emerged from ‘the wilderness of temptation’ (Matt.4:1-8), and just began His earthly ministry, Jesus needed to constitute a team of hardworking and faithful people who would follow, observe and emulate Him.
He needed a team he could train, first to be with Him, and then to be entrusted with service (Mark 3:13-15), and He found here those already gainfully employed. Certainly, the Lord did not want idle and unfaithful people as disciples, unlike the erroneous notion some people have about God’s calling into service.
Here, He chose those who were already faithfully in active service! Surely, Jesus has no use for lazy and idle people. What of you?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be fully engaged and hardworking even as I strive to labour for you in Jesus’ name. Amen!
The Anglican Communion is the fourth-largest Christian denomination. Founded in 1867 in London, England, the communion currently has 85 million members within the Church of England and other national and regional churches in full communion. {.…Read more...}
