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Mark 1:19-20
In Mark 1:19-20 is the calling of James and John, brothers who were most likely the sons of a wealthy fisherman by the name of Zebedee as we are informed in Mark 1:20 that upon the calling from Jesus, they left their father and the hired servants. The expectation is that to have hired servants, Zebedee must have been a successful fisherman to be able to afford hiring servants to help with the business. This information adds yet another level of dedication to answering the call of Jesus; James and John left a successful family business, in which they most likely would have inherited from their father, to follow Jesus.
This is an example that nothing is more important than following Jesus, not even riches.
As Jesus calls His first followers/disciples we are learning the importance of answering the call of Jesus on our lives. This is God in human form calling us to Him – to respond to His call on our lives by dedicating our lives to Him in humble response and submission to His will for us. As we first answer the call, we most likely do not know how God is going to use us to bring Him glory, but that we must be open to follow Him, and when the time is right, He will open to us His will for our lives. This is/may be a life-long revelation in our lives as God generally does not reveal to us the whole of His plan for us, but just what is needed in the next step He desires for us to take in that plan. This requires a continual dedication to seeking God’s will and plan for our lives in humble sincerity of heart to Him. It is a wonderful journey that I pray you all put first in your lives – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see the importance of putting Jesus first in our lives. This is a call to turn from our present way of life and begin living a new life in Christ – to leave the things of this world behind and turn to Jesus. Please help us to see that answering the call of Jesus on our lives is to follow the first teaching of Jesus as we find in Mark 1:15 to “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” In Jesus name I pray, amen.