R E C R U I T I N G

Mark 1:16-18

During the recruiting process, what would be the most important factors in your decision to attend a university?  Would it be something like the beauty of the campus, the prospects for the team or another factor like a perfectly matched field of study?  Jesus was an outstanding recruiter and we read today about one of his recruiting calls.

Mark records this exchange between Jesus and some of his soon-to-be disciples at chapter 1 and verses 16 through 18.  “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  ‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’  At once they left their nets and followed him.”

The remarkable thing about how Jesus recruited was that he appealed to these men squarely within their life calling… they were fishermen and so he spoke to them in fishermen language.  He talked to them about fishing.  He simply shifted their focus from fish to men.

It’s the same for you.  Your coaches are shifting your focus from one level of sport and the limited area of competition to a higher level and to greater levels of skill and intensity.  It’s a big shift and requires a strong focus from each of you.

The question for today is, how will you respond to the call?  Will you respond as these men did and follow, ‘At once…’?   Or will you hedge and hesitate to commit to your team?  Let me encourage you to commit fully to your coaching staff, to your team leaders and to each member of your team.  As you do, you’ll see your whole experience in sport transformed into one that’s of the highest order.  Compete in such a way today.

Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 13:24-43
Acts 19:1-22
Psalms 31
Exodus 21-23