Daily Word - Follow Me, And I Will Make You Fishers Of Men - Matthew 4:18-25

Scripture:
Matthew 4:18-25 (New Living Translation)
The Calling Of The First Disciples
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Crowds Follow Jesus 23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,[a] Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

Footnotes:
Matthew 4:25 Greek Decapolis.

Reflection:
What is God's call on your life? When Jesus chose his first disciples, he called ordinary people. Peter and Andrew were brothers and fishermen by trade. Like the other apostles they were non-professionals who had no wealth or position. In choosing ordinary people Jesus made extraordinary claims -- to leave all -- family, kin, and occupation--for the kingdom of God. When the Lord calls each of us to follow him, he makes the same claim -- let nothing stand between you and Jesus. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not shrug back because we think that we have little or nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you make your life an offering to the Lord and allow him to use you as he sees fit?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord, fill me with gratitude and generosity for all you have done for me. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All.