March 6, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.”

(Matthew 4.18)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Not that it really matters how it happened but that it happened, Jesus knew the work of His Father had to come from a groundswell. By that I mean, the preaching and sharing of the gospel could not be bound to just one person. If we follow the Old Testament model, we find the evidence of singularity. Of course, we believe in the One God who is the Creator of Heaven and earth as well as is the Father of all nations. [Just thinking about that final statement, I am urged by the Holy Spirit to ask myself, as well as share it with you, “How many prodigal sons does God have?”] We know that of all the nations on earth, God chose to reveal Himself in a very spiritually personal way to “one” people. That revelation was not intended to set them as the only people whom God would favor and bless and call His own. That people, the descendants of Adam and Eve, were sanctified for a purpose. That purpose was to share the encounter of God’s mercy and grace with the rest of the world. The exclusivity of that purpose was also the inclusivity of the message: one people for all people. But we know that there were judges and prophets who were singular in their calling and message to the people of God as well as God’s people. The priests and Levites were a collective as were the elders and the teachers of the Law. We do see a pattern of presentation throughout the Old Testament.

So, what do we see in the New Testament? Is there a similar pattern of the presentation of God’s Word? We have John the Baptizer who was a transitional prophet as he prepared for Israel and any others who would listen for the coming of the Lamb of God. We certainly have Jesus who was the Messiah, a prophet, a teacher, a healer, a shepherd and the only sacrificial lamb sufficient to bring God’s mercy and grace to a universal salvation and forgiveness. Jesus could be identified as prophet, priest and shepherd-king. Still, it was not Jesus’ agenda to do the long-term and long-ranch work alone. He called twelve men to be mentored as disciples who would then become apostles (teachers of teachers.) He also empowered, blessed and sanctified others to be His witnesses in their own homes, communities and along the roads of life. They, too, were intended to be a collective testimonial community forged to be “light and salt” to the world. They were to demonstrate the living out of righteousness for those within that community and extend grace to others for the purpose of drawing them in as “lost sheep without a shepherd.” If those “lost sheep” would not accept nor respond to the witness, there were others not of that flock to whom they would minister.

So, the order by which the disciples were called and the circumstances under which they were called to be disciples doesn’t matter. Their function and purpose is what is important. It is important to us as well as disciples of Jesus who accepted and declare that He is the Messiah, the Son of God by whom and through whom all believers are able to gain entry into the Kingdom of God in Heaven. The building up of that community on earth is the example to which we all should attain.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.