Home > Lenten Blog 2022

Spread the love of Jesus to others

March 5, 2022

Isaiah 58:9b–14 | Luke 5:27–32 | Psalm 86:1–11

Luke 5:27-32

In this gospel reading, we learn of a tax collector for the Roman Empire named Levi. Jesus walks by Levi and tells him to follow Him. Levi does just what Jesus asks of him. Levi drops everything and follows Jesus.

This brings to mind one of the many phrases that are associated with Jesus. The phrase that I am thinking of is, ‘Come follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men‘ (Mark 1:17)

For us to be fishers of men today is difficult to understand, because we are not fishermen. The fishermen of the 1st century did not just fish as an occupation or hobby, fishing to them was their whole life. They were ordinary men who worked to support their families. I want to believe that they did not think of themselves as righteous or important. But when Jesus called on them, they followed, just as He calls on us to follow.

For us to be fishers of men in our world today means that we need to expand our horizons. We have to look far beyond the bubble that we live in. Our purpose in this life is continually evolving and we need to see that human values are on the rise, which is more important than material wealth.

If we are to be fishers of men, we need to think in terms of expanding (growing) the Kingdom of God. The way that we can do that is to spread the love of Jesus to others that we meet in our lives.

God calls to us everywhere and anywhere. We might be at church, at work, or spending time with family and friends. Jesus needs our help to bring others into His kingdom. We don’t have to be popular or wealthy, we just have to love Jesus and follow His path; just like the first disciples did by putting their nets down and following Him.

David Clifton