Have you taken your Daily Step
Sometimes the step may be a long one, a leap even, however, life is still taken "One step at a time!"
Add one Godly thought a day and in a year you will have taken 365 steps closer to Him.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
"Follow Me"
18Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
21Going 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; and He called to them.
22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-22 NAS
God is still in the habit of calling His children to Himself to serve and to walk with Him. This is His desire to restore us to the relationship that we experienced in the Garden of Eden. Throughout the ages this has been His purpose and can be found in the Old and New Testaments. In Ephesians 4:11 the scriptures tell us that some are called as apostles, some as evangelists, some as pastors, some as teachers and some in other capacities as we each are uniquely called to serve Him and each other. You are called to be something special to Jesus and to your fellow human beings.
He may call you as a child or when elderly or anywhere in between. He called these men from their work in the middle of their lives. He even approached them during business hours. He may call you away from what you are familiar with, even take you far outside your comfort zone. He may come quite unexpectedly after many years of waiting or answer on the first try.
Let him choose the day and the time and the way He calls. Do not waste the years or even the minutes until the call is realized, use every moment, whether at play, work or rest, preparing for Him. Take in life and cultivate the joy of learning and experiencing.
The hope and prayer for today is for open hearts, eyes, and ears to respond to His call.
O Jesus, help me to hear you plainly, to see Your plan clearly and for my heart to respond to Your call. Prepare me to take up the call and to be able bear it as far as the need is. Help me to wait upon you, Lord and not take the call into my own hands and desires. Begin today to take a small step in Your direction. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen,
Copyright © 2007 Rev. Leslie A. Johnson
Things to Ponder
1) What (not if!) is Jesus calling or preparing you to be?
The call may not have come yet so look at what you are experiencing now and in the past. What special experiences have you had in your life? Are you still in training? It may be in formal education or in the good and bad knocks of life. God can and will use anything in your life for good.
2) Are you ready and willing to experience a career change? It might not require one; on the other hand, like the disciples, it may mean some major adjustments. Free yourself of the unnecessary things in your life. Things can hold you back. This does not mean the responsibilities of life. Those will be blessings and strengths to you.
3) Consider the "normal" callings that Jesus gives: to be a godly child, a godly mother or father, or just to live and glorify God and man by being honest, hardworking, and living peacefully. Look for His guidance in the "small" tasks and callings He gives us.
4) What are you praying for and are you listening for His answer? Is it His will you are seeking or the answer you want? Give God the freedom to answer and show you in His own way. Are you open to His guidance?
Copyright ©2007
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