Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 14
Thursday


MAKING
THE CUT

READ:
Matthew 4:18-27
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[Jesus] said to them,
"Follow Me, and I will
make you fishers of
men." __Matthew 4:19
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Every year, high-school seniors apply to their favorite universities and then watch the mailbox for the letter announcing their acceptance.

It was different for teens in New Testament times. Jewish boys would often attend rabbinical schools until age 13. Then only the best and brightest would be chosen to "follow" the local rabbi. This small, select group of disciples would go where he went and eat what he ate--modeling their lives after the rabbi. Those who didn't make the cut would pick up a trade like carpentry, sheep-herding, or fishing.

Guys like Simon, Andrew, James, and John hadn't made the cut. So instead of following the local rabbi, they were down by the docks, knee-deep in the family business. It's interesting that Jesus sought out the men
the local rabbi had rejected. Instead of targeting the best and brightest, Jesus offered His invitation, "Follow me," to ordinary run-of-the-mill fishermen. What an honor! They would become followers of the ultimate Rabbi.

Jesus extends the same honor to you and me--not because we are the best or brightest, but because He needs ordinary people like us to model His life and to lovingly rescue people on his behalf. So, follow Him and let Him make something of your life! __Joe Stowell
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```````````````````````As followers of Jesus`````````````````````
```````````````````Who love Him from the heart,`````````````````
```````````````````````We may be ordinary,````````````````````
``````````````````But we've been set apart. __Sper```````````````
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Even the ordinary and the outcast
can make the cut to follow Jesus.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 4:18-22*************

18 And Jesus, walking by
the Sea of Galilee, saw two
brothers, Simon called Peter,
and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the sea; for
they were fishermen. 19 Then
He said to them, "Follow
Me, and I will make you
fishers of men." 20 They
immediately left their nets
and followed Him.

21 Going on from there, He
saw two other brothers,
James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, in the
boat with Zebedee their
father, mending their nets.
He called them, 22 and
immediately they left the
boat and their father, and
followed Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In this passage, we read that Christ called some fishermen while
they were mending nets to be His disciples (v.21). The same Greek
word used here for "mending" is also used in Ephesians 4:12 for
spiritual leaders training other believers for effective service--" for
the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry." Just as a net
needs repair to be effective, so all believers require assistance in
filling their gaps of training for service. __Dennis Fisher