Thoughts for the Day
Sunday, 15th January 2023: Being called
Mark 1 Ministry Disciples Calling Jesus
Reading : Verses from Mark, Chapter 1
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)
Thoughts
Mark has no time for dilly-dallying in his Gospel. In 13 verses he announces Jesus is the Son of God, quotes the prophet Isaiah, describes Jesus' baptism, and then his temptations in the wilderness. The first Gospel to be written is then ready for the calling of the disciples in Galilee. Jesus has made his base in Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, some 20 miles away from Nazareth. The first four to be called are fishermen, but what made them agree to leave their work to follow Jesus?
Let's think about the notion of being called to do something for a moment - we need to:
- hear (or see/read) the call;
- trust the caller;
- believe in the task;
- believe it's a job for us.**
The disciples had got to know Jesus in the town and in the synagogue, and they trusted him. Ultimately they believed in the task they were called to do, even if it meant leaving their families, learning new skills and putting themselves in danger.
It is no different for us. Jesus calls us again and again, in many different ways and to different tasks. Do we hear Him; do we trust Him? Maybe now is the time to step up and answer the call to some new task in our life. Try asking Him!
** All of these can also apply to someone who is at the end of their life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
we know in our heart
that You call us to new work:
through words from other people,
or when reading our bible,
or through our conscience,
or sometimes just a still small voice
that seems to speak only to us.
Help us to test this through prayer,
and then to step forward to answer the call.
Amen.
You might like to play this old hymn, with the written music, as well as voices and words - and you could use it as a prayer. It's sung by the 'Beyond the walls choir' - the organ plays the whole verse through before the choir sing!
We have looked at calling for a task today, but for anyone who is near the end of their life and is in fact being called home by God, then you might want to play this wonderful piece of music from a father who is dying to his son: