30 Nov Matt 4:19-20 (Follow Me) by Eric Gallagher
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” ~ Matt 4:19-20 (full readings)
Eric’s Reflections: I shared this passage with several hundred teenagers at a camp this past summer. The message taught was that we must be willing to give up anything to follow Christ….but there is more. God is not downgrading the fact that these men are ‘just fishermen.’ In this gospel reading, Christ is calling fishermen to be fishermen, but with Him and for something far greater. Christ is calling them to continue being who they are. He wants to have a relationship with them and to lead them to the Kingdom. Mother Teresa wrote an excellent meditation called “I Thirst.” In this meditation it is said, “You do not need to change to believe in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you.” Christ loves us for who we are. It is out of our love for Him that we begin to change. When we live in this love, we are transformed into who we are in Christ, which ultimately is a member of the body of Christ that builds up the entire body of Christ. The gospel today calls us to reflect on the work that He has given us. Are you working just to get things done, to make an income, or even simply to help others? The ultimate reason should be that God has called you to work…for building up His Kingdom.
* Eric Gallagher is the director of youth ministry for the Sioux Falls Diocese. He has been in youth ministry full-time for 8 years. Eric is married and has two children.
Faith Challenge: How are you building up the Kingdom through your day to day work? Ask the Lord to show you how you can do it ever better!
Counter-Culture News:LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life,Vatican, Project Rachel.
Our Prayers:Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed and Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
Feast Day: St. Andrew.
Faith Quote: “Recognize the extraordinary gift of Christ, who comes to dwell in your whole being and make your heart and body a pleasing temple to Him.” ~ Blessed John Paul II
Through Christ our Lord,
Eric
Isaiah 55:9
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.