Mark 1:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and
I will send you out to fish for people.” (NIV)
For the first nine years of my ministry, I was privileged
to serve in a Scottish fishing village called Dunure. It was situated on the
West coast of Scotland, overlooking the Firth of Clyde, which is the waterway
to the Irish Sea. It’s a picturesque village with an old ruined castle that
once owned by the powerful Kennedy clan. Quite recently, Season 3 of the
popular Outlander television series has just been filmed down at Dunure harbor.
The fishermen and their families taught me a lot about
faith and ministry. They were very supportive
but were also willing to let me know when I made mistakes. Their hard work and
determination gave me many insights into courage and endurance; their faith and
family ties helped me to understand the strength of being a community in both
good and adverse times.
When Jesus called the fishermen to be His first disciples,
I think He knew that their tenacity and loyalty, as well as their candid and
honest outlook on life, would bless His ministry and continue His mission long
after He was gone. Christ may have given them a new calling to find, fish, and
gather people to God’s Kingdom, but their own skills and determination would
ensure the future successes of the Christian faith. In fact, we are indebted to
those Galilean fishermen for the faith we embrace today, just as I am indebted
to the Dunure fisher-folk for teaching me many lessons about life and ministry
which I still practice years later.
Point to ponder
Who taught me about the Christian faith? What lessons
of theirs do I still practice today?
Prayer: Lord
Jesus, we thank You for the calling of the disciples and especially the
fisher-folk who supported and encouraged You throughout Your ministry. We also
praise You for the success of their mission to the larger world and the
blessings of faith that are now ours today. Grant us opportunities to share our
Christian beliefs with other people in our own lives. In Your Holy Name, we
pray. Amen.
Today’s image is one of
John’s crayon drawings of Dunure. If you would like to view a larger version,
please click this link: Dunure.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The church website can be
read at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.
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