Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. Mark 1:18 NABRE
Mark shares the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry including how He would travel along the shore and call fishermen to come and be a part of His ministry, rather than catch fish they can become “fishers of men.” We read, in a moment when Jesus calls two brothers, they abandoned their nets and follow Him. This abandonment stands out, not simply for what these men do leaving their jobs, but they leave everything to follow Jesus. Jesus calls them and they abandon their nets. When we are called to follow Jesus, we too are challenged to abandon all that requires us to cling to our old life; the desire for extra goods, roles that fill us with pride, power that soothes our ego. For Jesus we are not what we do, or what we have or what others think of us. Jesus calls us to abandon all things that trap and imprison us. We read over and over again in Scripture, God loves us, not for what we do, or what we have or for who we know, we are loved for whose we are, His. Abandonment is crucial to being a fully joyful, free child of God.
At the beginning of the twentieth century there was a holy man who lived in Algiers and was very close to Jesus. He is best known for his prayer on abandonment, it reads;
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father. – Charles de Foucauld
What kind of life do you want to be known for? Have you abandoned your nets?
We read over and over again in Scripture, God loves us, not for what we do, or what we have or for who we know, we are loved for whose we are, His. Abandonment is crucial to being a fully joyful, free child of God. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #abandon #freedom #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways