My
life has been marked by many ‘new beginnings’! They have usually been after
times of a house move caused by David’s job re-locations or times when we
believed God was asking us to go to a specific place for Him. They were always
great opportunities to make a new start! Whether I wanted to or not! Sometimes
it meant leaving a job, finding new friends, schools, and new house. I often
wish we had chosen a place because of the church rather than the job or house.
Every time it was like a New Year, an opportunity to take stock and review my
priorities and where does God fit into all of these choices??
Peter
in the Bible is such a wonderful example of someone who experienced several new
beginnings! When Jesus first called him and his brother Andrew ‘Come after Me,
follow Me,
and I will make you fishers of men! At once they left their nets and
became His disciples’ (Matthew 4:19,20). What a change, a whole new lifestyle
away from all the security of the family business, all his support network
gone!
Just think about no guaranteed income and not knowing if this will be temporary
or forever! Times away from his wife and family (Matthew 8:14). Did he really
count the cost or was it an impulsive decision from a man looking for something
more than his everyday life.
Just this last week at Bible Study Fellowship where we are working through Matthew’s Gospel we arrived at Matthew 16 where Jesus says “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:1-4 Message. What an amazing week to be studying Jesus’ attitude to the weather forecasts. What He really wanted was the people to look at their lives in the light of eternity, and where they would spend it. The signs that God has given us, pointing to Jesus as His Son are so clear, and much more important than any signs in the weather! We are so blind to the signs of the times, warning us He is coming back soon.
