Shopping for Men
You know it's the season for shopping when you hear the Christmas music. I can't imagine working in a retail store for two months hearing the same seasonal music day after day. It reminds me of all the ads we've endured due to the election the other day. I may not be celebrating all the election outcomes, but I'm ecstatic about the ads being over! I over heard a retail worker say one year, "I am so glad Christmas is over!" That is sad that we have made things that are meant to be monumental, annoying and burdensome.
I liked what Joanie Yoder wrote in her book, God Alone, on pages 98-99 about how God sees our daily lives and what He can do with whatever we give over to Him. First, she shares Luke 5:1-11 where Jesus gets into Simon's boat and asks him to push out from shore. Simon does and Jesus preaches to a crowd on the shore from the boat. When Jesus finishes speaking he tells Simon to push out into deeper water and "let down the nets for a catch." Simon replies to Jesus that they have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but he will do what Jesus asks.
Of course, those of you that know the story know that they caught a huge batch of fish, too much for two boats! "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'" Jesus replies to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Joanie Yoder writes the following regarding this section of scripture:
If we're to experience the joy of "catching" people for Christ, we must go out among them and sincerely befriend them. But as important as witnessing is, don't be friend just to witness; rather, witness because you are a friend...Will you be doing any shopping today? Be looking for opportunities to witness. The joy of a catch may be in the next aisle. You won't find opportunities to witness, if you're not looking for them.
I liked what Joanie Yoder wrote in her book, God Alone, on pages 98-99 about how God sees our daily lives and what He can do with whatever we give over to Him. First, she shares Luke 5:1-11 where Jesus gets into Simon's boat and asks him to push out from shore. Simon does and Jesus preaches to a crowd on the shore from the boat. When Jesus finishes speaking he tells Simon to push out into deeper water and "let down the nets for a catch." Simon replies to Jesus that they have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but he will do what Jesus asks.
Of course, those of you that know the story know that they caught a huge batch of fish, too much for two boats! "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'" Jesus replies to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Joanie Yoder writes the following regarding this section of scripture:
If we're to experience the joy of "catching" people for Christ, we must go out among them and sincerely befriend them. But as important as witnessing is, don't be friend just to witness; rather, witness because you are a friend...Will you be doing any shopping today? Be looking for opportunities to witness. The joy of a catch may be in the next aisle. You won't find opportunities to witness, if you're not looking for them.
Two men fishing on the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Love this....had forgotten that story as I can see me just giving in and saying "ok Lord...." Reluctantly and then watching Him make something amazing happen.
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