Daily Devotion – January 22, 2021 – The Rev. Richard W. Dow

Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Devotion

“How do you know you are called to the ministry?” my internship advisor asked me. I named things I thought I could do well. Ah, wrong answer! He told me that there was only one reason to go into the ministry: God wants it to happen. It’s a calling.

This week ask people why they’ve undertaken their life’s work. Let them talk through their reasons. Skills for the job are seldom the answer. Instead, I think you’ll hear that they’re doing what they believe helps people, what gives them deep satisfaction, and what God wants them to do. From day care teacher to CEO, the answer is about how God calls them forth, or you’re talking to people who are still searching for their life’s work, God’s calling for them. I wonder what those fishermen would have answered the day Jesus walked by? We find their words in our own hearts.

Prayer

Jesus, when you call us from other tasks to your work, it’s a chain reaction, from excitement to doubt to satisfaction and back again. Help our response to you to be as human, as exciting, and as fruitful as the ones you originally called. Amen.