Daily Worship

Discipleship has a cost - Commitment

Norah Summers March 31, 2014 0 0

Matt 4: 18-22

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen

As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net. Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” At once they left their nets and went with him.

He went on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat with their father Zebedee, getting their nets ready. Jesus called them, and at once they left the boat and their father, and went with him.

Jesus, 
tempted in the desert, 
clear-sighted now about your task,
and how not to go about it –

what do you do 
to launch your ministry
but call some ordinary working people to help you.
Fishermen.

And they simply leave their nets 
and their boats
and their old father,
and follow you.

Without question –
who are you?
where are we going ?

Called to follow,
and be made ‘fishers of men’ -

Called to follow into the unknown,
called to follow to the bitter end,
and bitter it would be for some.

Did they count the cost?
Did the cost count with them?

We are not likely to pay for our faith
with our lives –
though we know some still do.

We may yet find it costly to be disciples –

to give of our time, talents and money,
to make space in busy lives for prayer and devotion,
to speak out when we would rather remain silent,
to love people we find difficult to love.

Jesus,
tempted in the desert,
may we not look for the easy way out,
but follow you,
whatever the cost.

 

Norah Summers
Falkirk Trinity Church