Matthew 4:19

Don’t Be Embarrassed if You’re Still Looking for Your Calling – Matthew 4:19

Sometimes as followers of Jesus we struggle with understanding our calling. We might wonder why we aren’t more successful in our efforts or why we no longer find them fulfilling. What we once excelled at may have changed. Have we missed our calling?

In my thirties I knew I was made to be a mother. I was in my element managing our children and our home, but when we were done expanding our family I went through a terrible time of loss. I reminded God that I was good at this mothering thing and he’d blessed it. I gave it my all and saw good fruit in my family and in our community. Wasn’t this my calling? Why would he take it away?

I talked about these questions in a previous post. You might wish to read When Your Life’s Work Gets the Dreaded Pink Slip – Job 1:21.

How do I know what my calling is?

Have you ever thought that perhaps a calling might be a response instead of an assignment? I mean, repeatedly in Scripture we are told to follow Jesus. I don’t remember Jesus directing anyone to work in a certain field or strive for a particular profession. I’ll keep reading, though, in case I missed something.

He did say to work at whatever we do “as for the Lord,” but that seems to imply that any job can relate to our calling. In fact, in Matthew 4 when he tells his disciples to follow him, he promises that in following him he will make them what he wants them to be.

And he (Jesus) said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 ESV

Since I’m not a fisherman I have to look at the underlying meaning of “fishers of men” to find what it means to me. He’s talking to guys who make their living catching fish. What he’s telling me, a woman who usually works in ways not related to fish, is that he will make me a “bringer of people” to Jesus as I follow him in my daily tasks.

And this, my friend, is our true calling: Follow Jesus and bring others.

What Jesus calls you to do

How we fulfill his calling is our service, our response, to him. It’s our moment by moment choice to look for ways to love others in whatever we do, pointing the way to Jesus as we follow him ourselves.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35 ESV

Whether a band leader, an executive, or a homeschool parent your calling is the same as everyone else’s, to follow Jesus. Are you a nurse, a research scientist, a mom, a soldier, or a city council member? He calls you to follow him. If you’re a mechanic or a Walmart cashier, follow Jesus. He will lead us into opportunities to love others like he loves us, making us fishers of men — bringers of people to Jesus.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis

What did Jesus Say? – Matthew 4:19

In the 1990s “What would Jesus do” and WWJD became a fad in local youth groups. The phrase sounded right-on, because following Jesus’ example makes sense. After all, he is the Son of God. He lived and died in obedience to the Father. But there’s a problem.

Something about it has bothered me for a long time, so this morning I did some research.

what-did-jesus-say-use-once-purchased-canva

Sure enough, “What would Jesus do” was used to promote a social gospel, one that focuses on doing good works. The problem I have with it is that Jesus didn’t tell us to build our lives on doing good works. He told us to follow him. The phrase is speculation, suggesting we guess what Jesus would do instead of listening to him and doing what he says.

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men'” Matthew 4:19 ESV.

I’ve never wanted to just follow ideas, fads, or religious practices. It all may be good stuff, but the driving force for me is staying close to Jesus by continually reading and seeking to understand his words.

I know that’s what Jesus wants me to do.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis

Parenting Tip #3 – Be a Follower

Parenting is the most rewarding and challenging job I can imagine, and to me it’s a perfect example of what a lifelong learner looks like.

Follow Jesus

“And he (Jesus) said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men'” (Matthew 4:19 ESV).

When Jesus invited the fishermen to follow him, he promised to expand their job description to be more than getting fish to market – he’d make them bringers of people to God.

In the same way I feel he invites me to follow him so I can see a bigger, more exciting picture for my parenting.

On Their Level

Jesus was called Emmanuel, or “God With Us.” He was literally God who humbled himself to become a man. He made friends and traveled with them, taught them, ate with them, camped with them, corrected them. And as he’d promised, they became fishers of men.

In the same way, following Jesus, let’s be fully in our children’s world day and night, engaging them, learning about them, challenging them, playing with them, teaching and correcting them. That’s where to find joy in being a parent and enjoying life’s adventures.

With Him

Remember that Jesus often took time away to be alone with God. It’s important to find a way to be with him and learn from him, the best teacher of all, even if it means sitting on the floor in the bathroom with your Bible when everyone’s asleep. You won’t be the first parent who’s done that.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis

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