In Matthew 4:18, it is written, " 18 aAnd Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon bcalled Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. " Jesus appealed to Peter and Andrew's skills as fishermen when calling them to God's work. In verse nineteen, it is written, " 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and aI will make you fishers of men. " How do we know that being fishers of men is God's work? To begin with, Jesus' word is God's word, for in John 8:26, it is written, " 26 I have many things to say and to judge 1of you: but ahe that sent me is true; and bI speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. " Who sent Jesus? In John 3:16, 17, it is written, " 16 aFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten bSon, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 aFor God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. " Furthermore, God's word is His will, for in Matthew 7:21-27, it is written, " 21 Not every one that saith unto me, aLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that bdoeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we anot prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out 1devils? and in thy name done many 2wonderful works? 23 And athen will I profess unto them, I never knew you: bdepart from me, ye that work 1iniquity. 24 Therefore awhosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon 1a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon 1a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. " Additionally, in James 1:22, it is written, " 22 But abe ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. " Thus, God's word is His will. Moreover, in John 4:34, it is written, " 34 Jesus saith unto them, aMy 1meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to bfinish his work. " Thus, God's word is His work. Therefore, God's word = His will = His work. When Jesus made His statement in Matthew 4:19, He was calling Peter and Andrew to do God's work.
God has commanded us to have a Christian influence in this world? How do we know this? In Matthew 5:13-16, it is written, "13 Ye are the salt of the earth: abut if the salt have lost his 1savour, 2wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 aYe are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men alight a 1candle, and put it under a 2bushel, but on a 3candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, athat they may see your good works, and bglorify your Father which is in heaven. " Who was Jesus teaching? In verses one and two, it is written, " 5 And seeing the multitudes, ahe went up into a mountain: and when he was 1set, his disciples came unto him: 2 and he opened his mouth, and ataught them, saying. " Jesus was teaching His disciples. Thus, the disciples of Jesus are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In Acts 11:26, we read that the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch ( please read all of this chapter to get the immediate context ). Since it has been established that God's word is His work, for example, then it follows that God has given us His work to do on this earth, namely, what the Holy Bible teaches. For those of us men who are Christians, members of the church ( see Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; Romans 12:1-8 ( especially verse 5, for example ); 16:16; and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 ( especially verses 20 and 27, for example ), for example ), who preach and teach God's word full-time ( see 1 Timothy 2:11, 12 and 2 Timothy 4:1-5, for example ), that is our work. The older Christian women can teach the younger Christian women, for in Titus 2:3-5, it is written, " 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not 1false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 that they may 1teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, 1keepers at ahome, good, bobedient to their own husbands, cthat the word of God be not blasphemed. " As Christians, our work is to pursuade others to obey Christ and live for Him. In John 3:36, it is written, " 36 aHe that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the bwrath of God 1abideth on him. " Again, in 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, it is written, " 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that aif one died for all, then were all dead: 15 and that he died for all, athat they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. "
We do not have to travel to Palestine in order to call others to follow Christ. We must be ready to identify our own figurative sea of Galilee, wherever we happen to be in this life on earth, and also be able to identify those who have an interest in God's word ( see John, chapter 4, for example ). In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the apostle Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 1:1 ) wrote ( see 9:1 and 16:21, for example ), " 11 Be aye 1followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. " Purity of life must be evident in our manner of living, for in 1 Timothy 4:12, it is written, " 12 Let no man 1despise thy youth; but be thou an aexample of the believers in word, in 2conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ). Otherwise, how will we be able to demonstrate to others that we are living for Christ? How can we tell others to immitate us as we imitate Christ, if we are not walking in His footsteps? In 1 Peter 2:21-25, it is written, " 21 For aeven hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, bleaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 aWHO DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS 1GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH: 23 aWho, when he was reviled, reviled not 1again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but bcommitted himself to him that judgeth righeously: 24 aWho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, bthat we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: cby whose 1stripes ye were healed. 25 For aye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned bunto the Sheperd and 1Bishop of your souls " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ). Please seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read ( see Isaiah 34:16, for example ). Please search the scriptures daily, as the Jews of Be-re´-a did ( see Acts 17:10, 11, for example ). 🕮
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