Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
The story of the calling of the first disciples is so well known that we don't always see how remarkable it is. Jesus is walking along the lake shore and sees Peter and Andrew fishing; 'Come with me,' he says, 'and I will teach you to catch people' (verse 19). He then calls James and John in the same way.
His words are somewhere between an invitation and a command, but the impression is that his choice is almost random. He hasn't conducted interviews or looked at their track records first; it's not an obvious way of selecting the key figures in a world-changing movement. Did he see some special quality in them? Or perhaps he was walking along the shore at just the right time to meet the best possible candidates?
There's another explanation that's much more challenging. Perhaps he deliberately didn't go out of his way to choose the best candidates; perhaps he just called the ones who would say yes. It's because they answered the call that the Church was founded, the world was changed and we are here today.
So we might learn from this that God does not call the equipped; he equips the called. All believers are called to follow Christ and 'catch people'. The first disciples were very ordinary. They became extra-ordinary because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. They were no more special than we are – and no less.
God, thank you for calling me to serve you. Help me to trust that you'll equip me to do what you ask me to do, and to face the future with courage and hope.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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