Stepping out in Faith and Obedience (English)

Mark 1 :16-20

"Now as he walked by the Sea of Galilee , he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea : for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them , Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway, they forsook their nets and followed him.
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother , who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway, he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servant, and went after him."

Prior to Jesus calling them into the ministry, Simon, who is also called Peter, and Andrew were fishermen by profession. They were catching fish. But when Jesus said "Come ye after me and I will make you fishers of men" , immediately, they left their nets and followed Him. That is called - stepping out in faith and obedience. They never questioned Why? are they leaving their jobs or How? are they gonna live with out their jobs. They trusted the One who called them and so, they obeyed. All they knew was that, they will no longer be catching fish in the sea but catching souls to bring in the kingdom of heaven.


Today, Jesus still does the same. He calls people of every profession or stature to do the work of reaching out to the lost. Just like Simon Peter and Andrew , Jesus is looking for those who are willing to forsake their jobs and all, to evangelize this world. To snatch the lost souls from hell and bring salvation to them. To heal the sick and set those who are bound by vices and sin free.
To preach God's word to every creature, rich or poor. And in so doing, believe, that it is God who will provide for all their needs.

When Jesus saw James and John, sons of Zebedee, also mending their nets, these two men immediately left their father and obeyed Jesus. This shows how in obeying Jesus, we also have to leave our families behind in order to fulfill our high calling and destiny in Christ. Forsaking our loved ones for the sake of fulfilling God's calling in our lives is sometimes the price to pay in order to serve him with out hindrances and distractions.

Matthew 10:37-38 - "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worhty of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

The Scripture clearly implies that God is the priority of our lives. He comes first, before - jobs, careers or businesses. He comes first, before - loved ones or relationships. Thus, if God is asking us to do something just like the men in the Scriptures, we should step out in faith today. And obey like there is no tomorrow.

Just like Peter and Andrew , God might be asking you to go full time in the ministry. Do not be afraid. Step out in faith! It is God who will sustain you and provide for all your needs. Or, it might be, that, God is asking you to give a generous amount of money to help in the ministry. Do not be afraid to obey! It is God who will bless you in return, more than you will ever expect or imagine.

On the other hand, you might not be called into full time ministry. But, if God is asking you to be His instrument of salvation to the people around you who are dying and hopeless... Do not be afraid! In your own capacity, step out in faith and make yourself available to be a blessing to others! Proclaim the message of God's love and salvation to the lost. Be an instrument of healing and deliverance to those who are sick and oppressed. Make your life count! Find meaning and purpose to your existence. Do the will of God in your life, wherever you are and whenever you can. It is only then that you will feel fulfilled and complete.

Matthew 10:39
"Whoever finds his life will lose it , and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Good Steward (Tagalog)

I Corinto 4.2
"Ang katiwala ay dapat maging tapat sa kanyang panginoon."

Sa Genesis 39 , pinatunayan ni Jose ang kanyang katapatan. Sa kabila ng paulit-ulit na pang-aakit na ginagawa ng asawa ni Potifar , hindi niya ito pinag-ukulan ng pansin. Bagkus , siya ay nanatiling tapat sa kanyang panginoon. Si Jose ay isang taong mapagkakatiwalaan. Pinatunayan niya ito sa gitna ng tukso. Dahil sa katangiang ito , nakamit ni Jose ang "favor" ng Diyos. Naranasan niya ang promotion , kasaganaan at pagpapala ng Diyos.

Maging sa ating mga buhay , ang nais ng Diyos ay manatili tayong tapat sa lahat ng ating ginagawa , may nakatingin man o wala. Gampanan natin ang ating tungkulin ng tama. Kung ito'y ating gagawin , hindi tayo lilimutin ng Diyos. Higit pa sa ating inaasahan ay kaya niyang ibigay. Isa lamang ang hinihingi niya - ang tayo ay maging tapat upang tayo ay mapagkatiwalaan.

Mateo 28.19 , "Humayo kayo at ang lahat ng bansa ay gawin ninyong alagad ko".
Sa ating panahon ngayon , naghahanap ang Diyos ng mga taong handang magbigay ng buhay sa kanya at maglingkod. Sa 2 Corinto 5:18 , ibinigay sa atin ang ministeryo ng - pakikipagkakasundo. Ang mga Kristiyano ang kinatawan ni Kristo upang ipangaral ang Salita Niya. Nasa ating mga kamay ang tungkulin na ipagkasundo ang sanlibutang ito pabalik sa Diyos. At gagawin natin ang tungkuling ito sa lahat ng oras , napapanahon man o hindi. Inaasahan ng Diyos na sa tungkuling ito , tayo ay magiging tapat at mapagkakatiwalaan.

Tulad ng iniutos kay Ezekiel , tayo din ay ginawang tagapag bantay ng Diyos sa mga tao. Kung ang isang taong masama ay hindi nasabihan ng tungkol sa kanyang kasalanan at hindi niya tinanggap si Jesus bilang Panginoon at Tagapagligtas ng kanyang buhay , at siya ay inabutan ng kamatayan , sisingilin ng Diyos ang kanyang dugo sa ating mga kamay. Subalit , kung siya naman ay nasabihan , tumanggap sa Diyos at tumalikod sa kasalanan , hindi tayo mananagot sa dugo ng taong iyon.

Gamitin natin ang ating kakayahan , anuman ito , upang paglingkuran ang Panginoon. Gampanan natin ng may katapatan ang tunkuling iniatang Niya sa atin. Sa ganoon , tayo ay matatawag na mabuting katiwala. Alalahanin natin , ang napagkakatiwalaan sa maliit na bagay ay mapagkakatiwalaan din sa malaki. Hindi natin kayang tawaran ang pagpapalang kayang ibigay ng Panginoon sa mga taong tapat at mabuting katiwala.