Follow Me

Matthew 4: 19 “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

What did you want to be when you were a kid? Our minds wander when we are younger; we want to be everything from a pro athlete, firefighter, dancer, farmer, artist, pastor, or maybe even a circus clown. Then you grow up and get to college and you go through the same scenarios. What degree am I supposed to get? What job will I take? What field will that job be in? Where in the world will my job locate me? The list goes on and on and our list gets expanded before ever getting narrowed down. The big question is though, are you doing what you thought you would be doing as a small child? What about as a college graduate? Are you studying what you thought you would study or did you change your mind?

When I turned 16 I started working at the grocery store, and never in my life did I think that I would still be with them 8 years later. There is nothing wrong with my job and I love what I do, but I just thought I would go to college get a degree (which I did) and then move on to a different profession. But then, while looking at the book of Matthew I realized that I’m not the only one doing something different than what I had planned. Peter and Andrew (brothers) were out fishing when Jesus called out to them. These brothers left everything and became fishers of men, sharing the faith with all those they came into contact with.

Now I realize that times are different now and that I haven’t left a job dropped everything and followed Christ. But what I do know is that He gives me the opportunity to be a fisher or men while I do other things. By that I mean He allows me to work at my job and show that I am a Christian to others, not only in the way I act, but the way I present myself. The hours I work and the reasoning for not wanting to work Sunday mornings, or Wednesday nights during Lent and Advent. He gives us the opportunity to share our faith all the time, in devotions, at church at work, in groups when going out. We don’t necessarily have to drop everything to be fishers of men. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that. I have friends who are missionaries and I have thought of becoming a pastor and who knows someday my calling may continue to lead me there. I just pray today that you let God lead you to share your faith with all people you come into contact with.

I pray that every day you allow God to lead you to share your faith. Be it as simple as bowing your head to pray before you eat, or helping out someone in need. And who knows where Christ will lead you. Below is an e-mail I received from a good friend. It’s different but another way to look at not doing what you had dreamed of doing, and how God will continue to shine through you anyway.

Three Trees:

“Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'
-Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'
-Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'
-After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
-At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
-When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.
-When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
-The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
-The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.
-The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
-Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
-Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
-Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
-The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.
-Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
-We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.”

May your day be blessed.