Jan 28 2010

Calling All Sinners!

Published at 9:54 pm under Announcements, Newsletters

“When Simon Peter saw it [the huge catch of fish sinking the boats], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”…Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’” – Luke 5: 8 & 10b

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Are you a sinner?  Then God is calling you!  Jesus is calling you to follow him, put your trust in Him, serve him, and catch people with his love.  Do you hear the call?  Do you believe that God is calling you?  Do you trust that Jesus can and will use you to the glory of God?

My youth director used to tell us, “God doesn’t call the qualified; God qualifies the called.”   She’d tell us this every time we hesitated to volunteer, or hang back instead of stepping forward to help or lead, and especially when we started making excuses for why we couldn’t do something.  Hesitating and making excuses for why we do not follow Jesus and serve as his disciples in the world using whatever gifts, skills, and talents God has given us seems to be an epidemic among Christians.

Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees giving Jesus his excuse: “Go away from me, Lord!” He added as the core of his excuse the truth about himself, “I am a sinful man!”  Notice that Jesus did not contradict Peter, or accept his excuse.  By his blatantly ignoring Peter’s excuse, Jesus is saying to him, “Yeah, I know you are a sinful man.  But that doesn’t disqualify you from following and serving me. I qualify you by my call!” Notice too, that Jesus also addresses the underlying issue, Simon Peter’s fear.  “Do not be afraid,” Jesus says. “From now on you will be catching people.” Peter discovers, and so will we, that even though we are sinners who make mistakes, who don’t have the right answers or understanding, whose faith is less than stellar, Jesus’ grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness is sufficient for us. 

Jesus is calling you to trust that his love, grace, and mercy is sufficient for you, and for all of us sinful people, to become his disciples and servants in the world.  Listen, Jesus is calling, “Don’t be afraid, from now on you will be catching people.”  Will you get up and follow Jesus?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Kent Claussen Gubrud

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