March 8, 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:

I attend a faith community which adopted the motto, “Reaching People for Jesus, one person at a time.” I understand the intent of the statement which is to be personal and create a connection between the heart, mind and soul of a person and God. That connection is, of course, Jesus Christ. As I am often wont to do, I see the statement differently now as I remember and rehearse the call which Jesus extended to those who would follow Him. It is no less an effort of personal connection. For Jesus, as I have shared in bringing the story to life that was pre-history for those who would be followers, connections had been made. I believe that Simon (called Peter by Jesus), Andrew (Simon’s younger brother), James and his brother John (the ‘sons of Thunder’ referring more to their mother’s forceful nature than a father’s personality) were already cultivated as friends. The sea had brought them together. There is something about water that stirs us. Maybe it is because we are bodily about 60-70% water. Is it a mere coincidence that the earth’s surface is about the same percentage? Regardless, there is a power in water which moves, shapes and bring life on earth. In the Creation Story revealed to Moses by the Holy Spirit, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1.2) There was a distinction made about the water so that there was the water on the earth (ocean) and the water in the sky (atmosphere). It would be easy to read that the darkness over the surface of the deep referred to the ocean where the depth of the water kept the sunlight above (when it came into being) from penetrating too far. Likewise, the Spirit of God hovered above the waters as the very atmosphere where “breathability” would be present. We have seen the power of water in torrential downpours and storm surges creating floods. Even yesterday, a clogged sewer line a block away caused sewage water to back up into the basements of at least three homes including our own. Rising up out of the darkness, toxicity breeds a kind of life that is more death than living. Even in its frozen state as ice and snow, sleet and hail, the power of water is visible. Additionally, a fetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid which not only protects the fetus but supplies it with necessary nutrients. Of course, the power of transformation is symbolized by baptism, whether by “sprinkling” or “immersion,” which is the use of water to cleanse, purge and protect as the one baptized is “born again” out of the water. Maybe this is why so many hold fast to immersion as the proper form for baptism. It is not simply ceremonial washing.

Maybe I have strayed off topic from where I began. I started with the motto, “Reaching people for Jesus, one person at a time.” The origin of that connection to today’s reflection was about “reaching one person at a time” with the message of the gospel concerning Jesus as the Christ. As Jesus began His discipling ministry, He called brothers (at least in the Synoptic Gospels). After that, He did find others, but it is not always clear as to whether they were alone or in a group, except for Matthew. My thinking, at this point, is the challenge of discipleship. Jesus was demonstrating the power of being a discipler. It wasn’t so much that He would only call into discipleship “one person at a time” but that it was “one” person doing the calling. It is the power of personal responsibility to accept the commissioning of Christ as the true purpose of one’s new life in Him. Consider this from the story of Creation. “In the beginning,” or at the “end” of the beginning on day six, a holy couple was sanctified and blessed for the purpose of “subduing the earth” and to shepherd and steward it into life from generation to generation. It was, seemingly, the fullness of the spiritual connection between God and them (who in the “second” creation story in Genesis 2 were as one person; “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh”). But, they were then the “one person” maintaining the reach from heaven to earth. In our “second” birth, our purpose is extended by the additional commandment and covenant made by and in Jesus to reestablish the spiritual connection between God and humanity. We do so as a single person, a duo, a team, a community and most specifically as “one body with many members and Jesus Christ as the head of that body.” The impetus is two-fold. It comes in “one to one” relationships, but it is more for the One to one relationship transforming life from the unnatural and corrupted world of sin into the natural and glorious kingdom of God. We act not on our own not alone. We are agents, emissaries, missionaries, disciples, friends and joint heirs of the Kingdom of God. It is important, mighty ones of God in Christ Jesus, that we have a good understanding and firm grasp on the truth of our discipleship. We must claim who it is we are in Christ and what it is we are doing because of Christ. We are world (people) changers and life transformers putting our faith in Christ into action. As we believe in Him who believes in us, we are a priesthood of all believers as well as an “angel” army for the cause of good speaking the truth in love.

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.