Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers. They were Simon (his other name was Peter) and Andrew, his brother. They were putting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” At once they left their nets and followed Him. – Matthew 4:18-20
For most of us, time at the lake is a relaxing getaway from the busyness of life. For Peter, the lake was life. He was a fisherman who grew up on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. He spent his days and nights fishing and selling fish to the community. The lake was work for Peter.
When Jesus approached Peter, and his brother Andrew, his invitation to follow him would truly disrupt their lives. Jesus came to Peter and Andrew and said, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” Suddenly, what Peter had done for his entire life was now a thing of the past. Jesus had invited him into an entirely new life, a new adventure.
I wonder how Peter felt as he left his nets and followed Jesus? Gripping those nets was hard work, but that hard work was comfortable for Peter. After all, that is all he knew. I wonder what was going through Peter’s mind as he left the shore of that lake that he had known for his whole life and followed Jesus into the unknown? Peter, Andrew and all of the disciples were about to experience something new. They were about to have their world changed. They were about to change the world.
Our world has recently changed. We are not living life in the same way that we did just a few months ago. Life has changed, but that is just an opportunity for us to connect to God, to follow closer. Our faith teaches us that change happens, but in that change, God calls us to ministry. There is a fear that comes with leaving the normal behind, but there is a greater joy that comes when we join Jesus in ministry. We become those who share love and hope in the midst of trying times. We become those who share peace and joy in a changing world.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
