This week our discipleship focus leans into the challenge from God to “get our hands dirty” – in other words, to participate in God’s kingdom work, to join with Jesus in His mission to the world around you particularly, so…

Let’s do that in His name:

We step into this week celebrating You, Father, by whose creative hand we and the world are sustained;

We are celebrating You, Jesus, by whose pierced hands we and the world are redeemed;

We are celebrating You, Spirit, by whose guiding hand we find ourselves in the truth of Jesus, and in a position to share that truth with others to your glory.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Luke 5:1-11

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and have not caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Peter: Go away from me,
Lord; I am a sinful man!

Jesus: Don’t be afraid;
from now on you will
fish for people.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Take My Life and Let it Be
Written by Francis Havergal

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee

Wednesdays will serve as a lyrical reminder to use music to connect with the Lord and worship Him daily. Consider taking ten minutes a day to stop and listen – or even sing along. Let the Holy Spirit use music to feed your soul.

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”… Jesus said to Zacchaeus…”the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

“What is a Disciple?” part 3, Hands: Joining Jesus on His Mission

Fishers of men… In response to Jesus’ call, we are to join on his mission to the world – fishing for men, or as Jesus says in Luke, “to seek and save what was lost” (19:10). We are committed to his agenda in life even above our own, serving at His pleasure with whatever time, talents and resources he puts at our disposal.

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
- Apostle Paul

Father God, these words from Paul are so distilling for us. We can get wrapped up in many things – even many godly things, but you remind us in these words of what really matters to you – faith expressing itself through love. Oh Father, what a gift that we get to even be called Your children. Thank you for the gift of faith. May our love for you deepen as an expression of our faith and may our love of those around us further that expression to your glory; in Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.

People will look different when I see them with God. People are a huge part of the "with God" life, because we have to live with people. We have to interact with them. How we get along with people says a lot about where our soul rests. When we are living with God, we will see people as God sees them. If I'm aware God is here with me, and God is looking at you in the same moment I'm looking at you, it will change how I respond to you... Imagine how your church would change if you saw each other through God's eyes. Imagine how the world would respond if Christians saw people the way God sees them. 
- Soul Keeping, by John Ortberg, pages 124, 125

Peter, the Pentecost-al Preacher: In Peter we have wonderful highs and uneasy lows: A declaration of Jesus as Messiah lauded by Jesus himself; an ill-conceived argument to defend Jesus condemned as devilish; swinging swords and multiple denials. Walking on water, then sinking in water, then further along baptizing about 3000 with water in just one day. He didn’t always get it right, but he was all in after that second, huge catch of fish on the shores of Galilee when Jesus asked him “do you love me?” and then told him “feed my sheep”.

Consider reading 1st and 2nd Peter from the lens of Apostle Peter discipling those he was writing to. Who are you in a discipling relationship with?

Luke 19:10

Spoken from the house of a newly-reformed tax collector named Zaccheaus, Jesus declared, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

1 Timothy 4:8

Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Lord Jesus, how blessed we are that you got your “hands dirty” by coming to be with us, to live among us, to seek after us. You sought Zaccheaus, even putting your reputation on the line to reach the likes of him (and the likes of us). You put your life where you mouth was – help us to do the same. As well, let us grasp the value of godliness and be able to tap into a Spirit inspired perseverance to rise to the challenge of making sacrifices required to pursue such godliness over lesser goals –over lesser opportunities. In your name we pray.

Amen.