From Repentance to New Life

It was time to decide if they would live life in Christ.

Doubtless, those called by Jesus would have heard of Jesus.

But, they also heard about John the Baptist even more.

John preached in the form of a prophet from the wilderness calling for others to “prepare the way of the Lord” in repentance.

Many of John’s followers returned to the wilderness.

Jesus came out of the wilderness of his testing, to the shores of Galilee.

Where people lived and worked.

He first called Simon and Andrew, who were poor and had only a net to fish.

Then Jesus called James and John, the sons of Zebedee from their family’s boat.

They had a boat and hired men for their family fishing business.

They were not of the usual class of people that were allowed to be religious disciples.

Judean rabbi did not ask for others to be their disciples, the would-be disciples asked and were tested by the rabbi. Even then you were scrutinized according to your background.

Would they have had the opportunity to become a disciple if not for Jesus asking?

Jesus was not ambiguous when he said to “Come, follow” him and they would “fish for people.”

What would they do now that the promised time had come?

Keep fishing, expecting more of the same, disappointment of another “Messiah” and repetitive work, OR following Jesus with the promise of being effective in drawing others to God?

We often need to act when time is short, and a response is critical.

When there is an emergency, our time for responding is short.

When a house is on fire, the firefighters rush save others and combat the blaze.

When people come to blows, peace officers rush in to separate the instigators.

When an illness comes on us suddenly, medical professional rush to our bedside.

When lives are on the line, time is short and all may be lost without compassionate help.

And, compassionate help that has been prepared with tools and training help the most.

That is why we call emergency services or install fire alarms.

Sirens can be a sound of something terrible happening, and also a sound of help coming.

Someone needs to let others know that there is a problem, and that help is coming.

With sirens and alarms, the more there are and the louder they are, the more attention they get.

The Good News is that the kingdom of God was coming, and some were being called to help.

Jesus calls them to follow him and draw others to God.

While John announced the coming a Jesus, Jesus announced the Good News of the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God was coming near, but how does a kingdom go anywhere?

Jesus told them to Repent and Believe that the kingdom was “drawing near.”

God and the kingdom of God could not continue to be seen as distant.

Even though God promised them long ago that they would be his people and he would be their God. A close personal relationship is implied by the covenant and the tabernacle that traveled among his people.

Over time, they moved further and further from God.

God sent prophet after prophet to his people to call them to repent for being distracted.

What is it that is distracting you from following Jesus and sharing this good news?

Would you ask God to forgive over-focusing on yourself? For forgetting God and living just for ourselves?

Would you ask God to forgive your distraction from sharing the Good News and ask that God would provide a way for you to release them?

For whatever reason, whether it was the presence of God in Christ, or the appeal of becoming part of the mission of the promised Christ Messiah fulfilling prophesies, the disciples left their work and their families and follow Jesus.

They didn’t have time to be distracted.

On a side note: Jesus’ earthly ministry stayed primarily around Galilee, and so they were never so far from home that they could not return shortly. And, since some of the fishermen had hired men, they would not be without a source of income in entirety. This must not be used as an excuse to abandon one’s family, no matter the “worthy” cause. Even Paul’s words to the Corinthians about living as they do not have wives is an encouragement to live differently than the world lives, not about justifying abandonment.

The reason why Jesus’ disciples are called to live differently in the world is because they were empowered by Jesus to be his witnesses in the world, to tell others about the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is growing and we can experience unfailing love, peace, and joy of God’s presence and share it all with others.

The longer that we delay, the longer we put off the nearness of God and God’s kingdom, the longer we live without Good News and the joy that ground our lives with God’s presence.

Only with God’s continual, presence can we break the cycle of sin/repent.

Knowing that we cannot and will not break the cycle until we know Jesus as our only Savior, we are moved nearer to our New Life of freedom.

We may not be able to leave all of our responsibilities behind, but God enables us to live a New Life free of constantly worrying about them.

It is time to act! We are called to follow Christ and draw others to God.

God knows everything about you and loves you more than you will ever know.

As you come to know the love of God more fully, you will be moved to share the love of God with others.

What does that look like today? Where do you see others?

Do you see others online, why not share God and the good things of God online.

Do you call to talk to friends, neighbors and family on the phone? Why not pray for they and ask God for a blessing.

So you see others when you shop for food, why not be kind to others and give them a blessing by helping or even shopping for others who cannot?

What act of kindness can you do for someone who may not be able to return the favor?

Where do you see the love of God moving today?

Wherever the possibility of showing love may be, would you immediately Go and Follow?

God is calling you to “Come, follow” and God will draw others to him through you to New Life in him, if only you are willing.