If “Life is a Highway”, “How’s My Driving?”

I was recently provoked to certain thoughts after reading what this drunk had to say.

If Life Is A Highway Then How’s My Driving?

·        Am I driving under the influence of alcohol or other illegal substances?

·        Am I driving distracted?

·        Am I driving recklessly?  Swerving in & out of traffic & changing lanes with no regard for the others on the road with me?

·        Am I speeding?

·        Am I listening & looking for emergency vehicles?

·        Do I know where I’m going? …hmmm…

Do I know where I’m going?

My father says that I’m directionally challenged.  I prefer to explain that I have trouble multi-tasking when task #1 is driving & task #2 is navigating unfamiliar territory.

When I go somewhere new I have to be thorough. 

·        I check my trusty Google maps.

·        Ask my dad if Google is correct.

·        Print off a map including highlights of tricky parts.

·        Check to avoid construction, inclement weather & rush-hour traffic.

I do my research & I use ALL my resources!

What if we DAILY approach the highway of life with the same thoroughness?

What if we:

• Check our trusty map (Deuteronomy 17:19)
• Ask our Dad how the map applies today (Proverbs 19:20)
• Print off a copy to take with us highlighting the tricky parts(Psalm 119:11)
• Check to avoid construction, inclement weather & rush-hour traffic(Psalm 81:13)

While we're at it, why don't we take Dad with us?  He IS after all THE BEST navigator around.

Casting and Mending... for the church?!?!

Mark 1:16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. (also found in Matthew 4:18-22)

Just some thoughts... 

Simon & Andrew were CASTING their net.
James & John were MENDING their nets.
They were doing these things because THEY WERE FISHERMEN!

I heard a sermon preached once during my high school days about the difference between casting and mending nets in the "fishers of men" context.  As a home schooler, I found myself with plenty of excuses not to cast my net.  What could I possibly catch in my little pond?!?!  Then, Hark!  Maybe I can get away with mending others' nets.  “Just make sure nobody falls through the gaping holes in our nets.” 

Ok, nice thought.  But, I wasn't off the hook, and I knew it.

Fast forward to this evening when I went over these verses again.  I'm still more inclined to minister to those within the church and leave the net casting to the evangelists.  So, I went in search of scripture that would substantiate this idea.  I came upon this, "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers" (Eph 4:11) of course, when I kept reading, “12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”.  So, “When I’m mending AND casting my own nets, I’m equipping the saints to do the same.”
 

Mmm… better thought!  And while we’re on the subject of hooks…

Don’t try to use bait and hooks.  Use nets.  It’s the right thing to do. :)

Just some further thoughts…

Do you find yourself more inclined to cast or mend?  Why?