Disciples!

For Saturday, June 8, 2024:

1 Peter 2:1 NLT: “Get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”

As ‘fishers of men,’ most effort seems to be focused on the ‘catch.’ Evangelists have been sent to catch (convert) a many more Christians, and some are quite good at it! But if you catch a real fish, it’s worthless until you clean it! Catching new Christians doesn’t do them or us much good until they’re cleaned!

I’ve said before that loving your neighbor was a foreign concept to most people. They were mainly concerned with looking our for #1. But now that they’re Christians, loving God and loving our neighbors should move up on our agenda.

Becoming a Christian is more than receiving a heavenly ticket. We should also look like Christians and act like Christians. Our Christian faith needs to be recognizable. If our love for others isn’t visible, how will anyone be able to identify us?

So catch ‘em, but also clean ‘em and teach ‘em. Becoming a Christian is a lot more than simply reciting a short prayer you found in Billy Graham literature! Jesus said that we are to make disciples of all nations. Not just make Christians, but make true disciples. Equip them to love the Lord and to love their neighbors!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Fishers of Men!

For Friday, May 10, 2024:

Mark 1:17-18: “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Many of Jesus’ disciples earned their living by fishing, but ALL of them understood fishing. Simon and Andrew were using nets to multiply their fishing efforts. They could bring in a large number of fish by gathering the net once. That’s the principle.

In a way, Jesus said, “That’s nothing! Follow me and we’ll fish for human souls!” Jesus is preparing to speak the truth of salvation, the truth of being rescued from our sin problem. This analogy touched their hearts. They knew fishing.

Are we going to put out big nets and capture people? No! Our net is truth. Our net is heavenly truth straight from the mouth of Jesus. Our net is the promise of forgiveness. Our net is living in God’s presence in the life after this life.

This is Good News! It shouldn’t be too hard. Our net looks pretty good. People should be jumping into our boat! Encourage them!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship