The Adventure Begins
Opening Prayer
Lord, I pray that You’ll tune my heart to hear Your voice as You speak to me in Your Word.
Read Mark 1:14-20
[14] After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. [15] “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” [16] As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” [18] At once they left their nets and followed him. [19] When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. [20] Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How are these men described as responding to Jesus?Jesus’ first recorded words couldn’t be more direct or more exciting: “The time has come” (14). This is it—the culmination of history, of God’s salvation plan; the great breaking-through of God’s Kingdom into our world.
And this good news is available to everyone. Jesus proclaimed it openly, in the synagogues and towns and countryside of Galilee. But he didn’t impose it on everyone then, and neither does he today. Like Jesus’ first hearers, we have a choice. If we want to be part of the good news story, there are things we must do.
Repent and believe. They are just two little words, but what a weight of meaning they carry! When we hear Jesus’ call we can either ignore him and carry on as before, or—like Simon and Andrew, James and John—stop what we’re doing and follow him. These four men literally turned their backs on the only livelihood they had known in order to be with Jesus. God may not be calling us to give up our jobs, but true discipleship will always entail an equally wholehearted response to Jesus.
Apply
Ask God to show you any areas of your life where you need to repent today so you can follow Jesus more completely.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I do want to follow You as these men did. Help me to make that my first priority.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.