Thursday September 23, 2021

Today is Thursday, September 23 and this week we are exploring life-changing encounters with Jesus Christ in the gospels.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

Father God, I pause to listen for your voice in my life. Speak to my heart and mind whatever message you have for me today. Come Holy Spirit, lead me into a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Today I worship and praise the God who loves me with the words of Psalm 143.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:8-10

Pause and Pray

Everyone who encounters Jesus in the gospel accounts has a life-changing experience. After an encounter with Jesus, a person is not the same. Today we are in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus was baptized by John and spent forty days in the wilderness tempted by Satan. Following these events. Jesus’ earthly ministry begins. He learns that John the Baptist is imprisoned and he withdraws to the town of Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee. Walking along the sea shore, Jesus encounters a group of men going about their daily business of catching fish.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22

Encounters with Jesus frequently happen when people are about their everyday business. The men are working. They were at the place of their work – the Galilean coast line. They are surrounded by the tools of their trade – fishing nets and boats. They are actively engaged in their work – casting nets into the sea. Jesus only says a few words. His sheer presence must have had a tremendous impact on them for them to respond the way they do. It strikes me that all four men (Peter, Andrew, James and John) “immediately” choose to follow him. There is no hesitation; they go “at once”. I notice what they leave behind. Peter and Andrew “left their nets.” In addition to their nets, James and John leave their boat and even their father Zebedee! The nets and the boats are a valuable source of livelihood, they walk off and leave every resource for income. Similarly, I wonder what it is necessary for me to leave behind to follow Jesus. Am I ready to set everything down and leave it on the shoreline behind me?

Ask: What am I holding onto? What do I need to release, set down, and leave behind on the shoreline to follow Jesus?

Pause and pray

Lord God, I am thankful that Jesus sees me as I go about my everyday life, just as he saw the men fishing. I ask for a fresh encounter with Jesus. Show me what I need to let go of in order to see Jesus more clearly. Show me what I need to set down in order to love him more fully. Show me what I need to leave behind to follow him more closely. I read the passage from Matthew again slowly, paying attention to what you are saying to me today.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and pray

When the disciples set about their work of catching fish that day, they did not expect a life-changing encounter with Jesus. I also do not expect to encounter Jesus in my everyday life as I go about my business in my zone of busyness. When Jesus speaks my name, and calls me to “come and follow,” will I hear him? Will I follow? There are many things I hold onto that might prevent me from following Jesus fully. I name the things in my life that I need to set down and leave behind on the shoreline. What is it for me? Perhaps I need to leave behind selfish ambition, vanity or pride. Maybe I need to abandon my anger, frustration, disappointment or bitterness. Perhaps I need to let go of grief, sadness, loneliness or doubt. Maybe I need to relinquish my desire for worldly possessions, money, status symbols, or success. Perhaps I need to set down unhealthy behaviors, addictions, preoccupations, or poor attitudes. I name these things before God today. I imagine leaving them on the rocky shoreline, waves crashing over them, as I turn to follow Jesus.

Pause and pray

Lord, Jesus, thank you for noticing me and calling my name. You invite me to follow you closely, Jesus, and I want to leave everything behind and walk with you. Forgive me for desiring to hold onto worldly things. Grant me your grace to let go of the things I grasp for and strive after. Help me set them down and consider them as “rubbish” compared to a life following and serving you. I leave them behind on the shoreline today. Amen.

More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Philippians 3:8-9a (NRSV)

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I seek a fresh encounter with Jesus and the grace to leave behind any “rubbish” I have been carting around. I go to follow Jesus and love others in his name. Amen.