How things work together

For my daily devotional, I read through the Bible every other year using some reading plan and in the intervening years, I combine various devotional books to fit the same time allocated daily for my devotions.

Occasionally, readings on the same day click, working together to make an excellent combined message.

Last year, I used “Daily Discipleship” (Leroy Eims, NavPress, 1998) and “Devotional Talks for People Who Do God’s Business” (Warren W. and David W. Wiersbe, Baker House Books, 1986).” On one occasion, the devotion from “Daily Discipleship” was titled “Following Jesus,” and from the Wiersbe book, it was “When God Works, We Work!” So this article is based upon those two devotions with some points added by me.

Eims’ devotion was on Matthew 4:12-2, where Jesus called the fishermen, telling them he’d make them fishers of men. This came on the heels of Jesus overcoming the wilderness temptations, demonstrating his humanity, being tempted just like us and his integrity, being fully God without sin, making him someone worth following (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:14-15; Colossians 2:9-13).

Upon the call, the fishermen immediately left their livelihoods to follow Jesus. Although I’m not certain of their success in boatmanship or as fishermen based on other Scriptural accounts, I think they liked fishing (like many today) because, after Jesus’ resurrection, they went back gladly, or so it may seem, and others went along (Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 8:23-27; 14:22-33; John 21:1-6).

The four fishermen who left their nets already knew Jesus as disciples of John the Baptist, but also because he was James’ and John’s cousin because their mother, Salome, was Mary’s sister (John 1:35-42; 19:25-27; Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:55-56).

Jesus also knew all their desires and potential abilities, even for evangelism as fishers of men, just as he does about us because he’s the source of all knowledge and ability (John 2:25; 14:6-11; 15:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-18).

That’s what the Wiersbe devotion was about: God has placed us, as individuals with different talents/gifts, in a body (local congregation of Christians) working together to accomplish his purposes (Philippians 2:12-18; Ephesians 4:1-16; 2:10; 3:10-11). Because we love Christ, his love for us compels us to allow God to do his work through us so others can enjoy Christ’s love as well (2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Romans 3:21-26; 6:3-14).

Note that when Peter went fishing, two disciples besides the other fishermen went along. This may be a reflection of leadership ability recognized by others that Jesus had developed in Peter as he followed Jesus’ example through thick and thin (1 Peter 2:21-25; Matthew 18:18-22; Luke 9:57-62).

Are you allowing God do his work in and through you, beginning with him doing his cleansing work in baptism (circumcision of the heart is not done by any human, including you)? Are you working out your salvation by willingly acting according to God’s will? That includes being an active member in a local congregation, which is how things work together for all our benefit (Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; Romans 8:28)!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]