John F. Kennedy's speech has been quoted many, many times, especially when a patriotic concept is present. But, what would happen if we exchanged the word 'country' for the word 'God'? Ask not what your God can do for you-ask what you can do for your God?
A lot of people are quick to quote John 3:16 when relaying to others their need for salvation. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. There is hardly ever the follow-up of our part after the initial acceptance of Jesus into our hearts. For that, we must look at 1 John 3:16: By this perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. So many 'Christians' think that salvation is the end of their work, and that that is all that required of them. But, actually, it is only the beginning.
If the disciples teach us anything at all, it is to be 'sold out' for Jesus. When He came upon Simon and Andrew, fishermen on the sea of Galilee, he told them to to follow him, and he would make them fishers of men. (Matthew 4:18-20) There are several important concepts present in that statement.
The first is 'Follow me.' No premise of ever stopping is given. Nothing to imply that the job has an 'end' date. Nothing that says it falls to a lesser place on our list of priorities.
The second is 'I will make you.' This says that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will teach us the particulars of our new job. And, since the responsibilities of teaching falls on the shoulders of the Holy Spirit, he may use any means he chooses to have us learn. Our job is to be obedient to all of the convictions that the Holy Spirit brings into our lives. (But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you. Matthew 10:19-20)
The third is 'fishers of men.' Whatever a person's job has been, the knowledge and abilities learned while in it will be used as a pattern in the new job Jesus calls a person to. He will definitely expand a person's knowledge base and experience, but whatever character makes up our person, it will be used to promote the kingdom of God.
'They immediately left their nets and followed him.' In this statement are several concepts in how things change.
Firstly, when the opportunity to follow the Lord presents itself, then we should immediately leave our post to do so. When the opportunity presents itself, we should not delay in our decision to do the right thing.
Secondly, when we are called into ministry, we leave the tools we used in the world behind. We will be equipped, by the Holy Spirit, with the tools needed to do the job asked of us.
Thirdly, when we leave our worldly tools in place, someone will be put in that place to keep the world turning. Our previous job will be a blessing to someone who needs the work to feed their families and move forward in their own life.
Jesus went on to call James and John, who was in a ship mending nets with their father. (Matthew 4:21-22) They immediately left the nets and their father. In this example, all concepts apply here as they did with Simon and Andrew, with additional perceptions.
Firstly, if a person is in the 'family business' and the Lord calls them to break tradition and follow him, they should not hesitate to do just that.
Secondly, a person should not be made to feel like they are abandoning their parents if they choose to follow the call into ministry.
Ultimately, we are asked to give our 'all' for him, just as he gave his 'all' for us. Our sacrifice does not go without reward, if we give him our whole heart. (Mark 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.)
As the old saying goes, a person gets out of a pie what he puts into it. It is the same with God. If we give God 100%, he will return to us in abundance. Whatever we sow, that we will we reap. We've got to give it all, or nothing. We can't be 'in between', because that is a lukewarm place, and he will spew us out of his mouth if that's what we are. (Rev. 3:16)
