Daily Devotional
"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.'"
Mark 1:17
If Jesus did not separate Himself from sinners, why would we? This is one of the most challenging applications of Jesus’ baptism. He entered into the mess of human sin and shame. He built relationships with tax collectors, touched lepers, spoke with the woman at the well, and welcomed the woman caught in adultery. His entire ministry was marked by intentional engagement with those far from God.
Here is the uncomfortable truth: the longer we are Christians, the harder this becomes. We naturally gravitate away from the broken and the struggling. We prefer to be with people who have their lives together, or at least who look like they do. We develop comfortable Christian circles and rarely venture beyond them.
But remember: someone once waded into your life when you were lost. Someone did not give up on you when you were obnoxious, difficult, or far from God. They kept showing up, kept loving you, kept pointing you to Christ. Now it is your turn.
Following Jesus’ example does not mean compromising our convictions. It means getting uncomfortable sometimes. It means going places that might be messy, building relationships with people who are far from God, not so that we can become like them, but so that we can point them to Christ.
Today's Challenge
Can you name five people in your life who do not yet know Christ? Who was the person who "waded in" for you before you came to faith? What did they do, and how might you do the same for someone else?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have separated myself from those who need You most. Give me eyes to see the people around me who are far from You. Give me courage to enter into their lives, to build relationships, and to point them to Your love. Help me to remember that someone once waded into my life, and now it is my turn to do the same. In Your name, Amen.
