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As Jesus gathers his first disciples he gathers to himself young men who are the head of a fishing business. Peter, the chief fisherman, would have been the oldest and probably in charge of this family business. Jesus asks them to put down their nets and follow him, but he puts it in terms they can understand. He says “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” That’s how God calls us, to use the skills we know and are good at for his kingdom. What are you good at? Think about that… how can you use that for his glory? Your abilities are a gift from God, but they are also a gift for God, to be used as a part of his church to bless the world. How will you follow Jesus today?

In today’s verses from Luke 3, we learn that Jesus was “about 30 years of age” when he began his ministry. This is significant because this is the age (roughly) at which a young man would transition to being able to be a teacher and leader within the Jewish faith (a Rabbi). Jesus became an itinerant teacher and gathered for himself 12 young men to follow him. He was probably about 34 years old (in my opinion) when he broke onto the scene and began leading and discipling as he preached the Good News that he had come. The Bible does not require you to be “old enough” to lead others. You may only be in your 30s and you can change the world, if God is in your efforts. Are you in High School or Middle School and think you can’t make a difference? All the disciples except Peter were probably your age. You can make a difference. All God needs is a willing heart to change everything… will you follow him?

John the Baptist was a strange kind of fella. He didn’t really fit-in, but he was helping people get ready for Jesus. It’s kind of amazing that Jesus would be baptized, after all, he was not a sinner, yet John baptized those who were repentant so they could be forgiven. The people who came to John were “confessing their sin,” yet Jesus had nothing to confess. In fact, in stead of Jesus confessing his sin, God the Father confessed that Jesus was his son.

Jesus isn’t exempt from the problems of life, as soon as he had publicly declared who he was, he is tempted. That happens to us too. As soon as you make a decision for Christ, or recommit yourself, or bring something up in an accountability group, our enemy is going to come against you… count on it. As Jesus goes on to preach and heal people, his message is simple “repent and believe the gospel.” That’s what it takes to follow Jesus “repent” (change) “and believe the gospel” (the good news that Jesus is the way). There is no real belief without repentance, and repentance won’t last if you don’t really believe, it takes both, and they work together.

Have you changed the way you’re going? Do you really believe in Jesus alone? Choose him today.

Sometimes God calls us to be different. That was the case with John the Baptist, he was different. Strange clothes, strange diet, strange way to live. He used his inability to fit in as a way to draw attention, not to himself, but to Jesus. He is the one the Old Testament said would prepare the way for the Lord, we need to do this too. As you go through your day-to-day routine, prepare the way for Jesus. Draw attention to him, give the Lord credit for the good things in your life and set-up Jesus-centered conversations with those around you.

Oh… and if you’ve never been baptized… if it was good enough for Jesus, surely it’s good enough for you. 🙂

Way to go! We’re one week (and a day, leap year you know) into our New Testament reading plan!* If you have not started, you’ve got plenty of time to catch-up. That’s one reason we don’t have any readings on the weekends, to let you catch-up whenever you might fall behind due to life, it happens.

At the start of Luke 2:39-52 we see Jesus as an 8-year old Jewish baby, and by verse 41, he is a 12-year old young man.

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