A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Thursday,
June 3,
2021
Ester took this photo on the Old Windmill Farm
bringing this to mind.
"Fishers
Of Men"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
"Come,
follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers
of men" (Matthew 4:19). "Be wise in the way you act
toward outsiders; make the most of every
opportunity" (Colossians
4:5).
John Uhler
is a chaplain friend who has an unusual form of
ministry. He is a reenactment chaplain. He has learned
how a chaplain operated during World War 2 and joins
other reenactors at events that provide living history
demonstrations, a vital need in every age, but certainly
our own.
This
weekend there is a large World War 2 event in Reading,
PA sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Air Museum. I went with
Mark Pulliam, a longtime chaplain friend, several years
ago and it is quite a display. It includes a World War 2
reenactment camp and I suspected John would be going so
I called him to encourage him. He told me was indeed
going.
We spoke
for a few minutes and I expressed concern about the
forecast that may include rain. Out of nowhere (or so I
thought) John said, "but the rain is good for fishing".
I thought it a bit peculiar that he would change the
subject like this but I went along and said, I have
heard the fish bite well during rain.
He paused
and informed me he wasn't talking about that kind of
fishing but was alluding to Christ's call to be "fishers
of men"! He explained that when it rains people may
linger a bit longer to talk and come into his tent and
thus an opportunity is provided for a witness.
Christ's
call to the first disciples as He walked along the
Galilean seaside indicated early in His ministry His
desire to connect by means of identifying with the
interests people had. Peter and his brother Andrew were
fishermen. When Christ called out to them and said, "I
will make you fishers of men" He had their
attention. Several years later Peter cast a wide Gospel
net on the day of Pentecost and brought in a huge catch,
demonstrating his Spirit-enabled proficiency as a "fisher
of men".
Christ
said to them, "Come, follow me". In his first letter
Peter expresses the "follow" theme, calling his initial
readers and all to "follow in His steps". This phrase
was the basis for Charles Sheldon's Christian Classic,
"In His Steps".
Now certainly I believe it's appropriate for us to heed God's call to be "fishers of men", but I want you to consider another element of the text today; how we communicate timeless truths to a spiritually blind and Biblically illiterate world. In calling Peter and Andrew, Christ used words and concepts they could understand.
Today we urge you to invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in finding ways to reach the hearts of those whom you meet as you "walk beside the sea". May He also give you the words to clearly communicate the message of Christ's salvation to all who will hear.
Now certainly I believe it's appropriate for us to heed God's call to be "fishers of men", but I want you to consider another element of the text today; how we communicate timeless truths to a spiritually blind and Biblically illiterate world. In calling Peter and Andrew, Christ used words and concepts they could understand.
Today we urge you to invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in finding ways to reach the hearts of those whom you meet as you "walk beside the sea". May He also give you the words to clearly communicate the message of Christ's salvation to all who will hear.
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Jesus,
just as You called the fishermen, tax
collectors, and other commoners to be "fishers
of men" You also call and equip us to reach the
lost men and women, boys and girls of our day.
May our hearts be filled with compassion and our
spirits charged with faith as we prayerfully
seek to make a difference in our own generation.
It is not by our own might, our talents, or our
power, but it is by Your Spirit that we can
effectively reach the lost. Help us to be
faithful in doing so. We pray in Your name,
Jesus. Amen.
Daily
prayer: Jesus,
just as You called the fishermen, tax
collectors, and other commoners to be "fishers
of men" You also call and equip us to reach the
lost men and women, boys and girls of our day.
May our hearts be filled with compassion and our
spirits charged with faith as we prayerfully
seek to make a difference in our own generation.
It is not by our own might, our talents, or our
power, but it is by Your Spirit that we can
effectively reach the lost. Help us to be
faithful in doing so. We pray in Your name,
Jesus. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Message with photos from 2017 air show in Reading
"Fishers
Of Men Song"
Video
Message with photos from 2017 air show in Reading
This
weekend we will be riding the Delaware and Lehigh bike
trail from Bethlehem, PA down along
the Lehigh River and then down along the
Delaware River.
Our
baby birds flew the nest on Tuesday night
but if you look carefully you'll spot one we
found in our planter. Ester thinks this is
Conner.
When
I (Brooksyne) approached her (him) the beak
opened wide, so because my motherly instinct
to make sure everyone leaves the table with
full stomachs, I got my handy little potting
scoop and dug up a worm (thanks to all the
rain lately) and fed the hungry little
thing. Afterwards I looked toward the
fencepost and saw Mama and Daddy Robin, one
of them with a worm dangling from its beak.
I wonder what they thought of me doing their
job? After gobbling its lunch the little
robin got nervous and hobbled off to
continue its adventure toward independence.
Yummy!
Finally
today:
Here's
a cute table favor or cute little treat to
assemble and share with someone. We will
take this treat along with some 1957 Hardy
Boys books to our "grandchild", Jamie, who
is recovering from yet another accident. God
has assigned a brigade of angels to keep
their eye on this young adventurous child.
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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