Burunche’s Blog

John 8:31-32 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Definition of a disciple: a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.

When Jesus began his ministry, he had lots of interested people who followed him wherever he went for the sake of the teachings he gave. Matthew 7:28-29 tells us, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.” The difference was simple; the teachers of the law could only transmit the law with all the arguments surrounding it. Much of that teaching must have sounded like this: “Well, on the one hand, this portion of the Law of Moses says ______. But on the other hand, another portion disagrees with it.” The problem wasn’t in the Law but in the myriads of attempts to explain the Law that had developed since God gave it to Moses. While these academic discussions might have satisfied those interested in such things, others seeking for spiritual knowledge would remain unsatisfied. Jesus, on the other hand, presented things plainly, simply, and with God-given authority, and his listeners recognized the difference. Later, when religious authorities sent their soldiers to arrest Jesus, the soldiers refused, stating that “No man has ever spoken like this one.” (John 7:46 Temple guards sent to arrest Jesus returned empty-handed and told the leading priests and Pharisees that they could not seize him because his teaching was uniquely authoritative and compelling.) 

So Jesus had many followers; however, his disciples were far fewer. What makes the difference between a follower and a disciple, and why should we become disciples rather than remaining as followers?

Being a follower is simple; you go, you listen, and you only commit to the degree to which you feel comfortable. As a follower, you can always distance yourself, walking away if things become difficult. But discipleship is a totally different matter. The following aspects of discipleship are gleaned from a number of different sources, every one of which is well worth investigating on its own.

The Bible defines discipleship as a lifelong process of following Jesus, committing to his teachings, and transforming to be like him while helping others do the same. It requires self-denial, carrying one’s cross (Luke 9:23), and loving other believers (John 13:35), all centered on the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Key Biblical Aspects of Discipleship:

• Following and Abiding: Discipleship is not just learning, but adhering to Jesus’ teachings, which leads to freedom and truth (John 8:31-32) Mosaic International.
• The Cost: True discipleship requires placing Jesus above all else, including family and one’s own life (Luke 14:26-27) Bible Study Tools, C.S. Lewis Institute.
• The Great Commission: Disciples are called to actively make more disciples by teaching others to obey everything Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20) {Link: Jesus Film Project, Cru.org.
• Bearing Fruit: Abiding in Christ results in producing spiritual fruit, such as love, obedience, and good works (John 15:5-8) GotQuestions.org.
• Mentoring/Replication: Paul emphasizes passing on the faith to others who will in turn teach others (2 Timothy 2:2) Life on Life. 

Discipleship is essentially a transformation from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness (Galatians 2:20), aimed at growing into spiritual maturity and service Discipleship.org. 

In Colossians 1:28-29, Paul writes, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.”

Why should we passionately desire to become disciples when we know it might become difficult, painful, or even end in a violent death as it has for many people in places such as northern Nigeria or Sudan? The answer is simple: when we truly love Jesus, we want to grow as close to Him as possible. The more we learn about Jesus, the more we love Him, and the more we love Him, the more we will want to learn about Him. One friend who has since gone to be with Jesus always prayed, “Lord, help me to love you more today than I did yesterday.” We might echo that prayer and add, “Lord, help me to be more like You today than I was yesterday.”

C.H. Spurgeon, the famous British evangelist of the nineteenth century, once said, “Our knowledge of Christ is somewhat like climbing one of our Welsh mountains. When you are at the base you see but little… Climb the first rising knoll, and the valley lengthens and widens… Mount still, and the scene enlarges… Now, the Christian life is of the same order. When we first believe in Christ, we see but little of Him. The higher we climb the more we discover of His beauties.”
— C.H. Spurgeon (from Morning and Evening, based on Isaiah 40:9) 

There’s an old Gospel song entitled “The Longer I Serve Him, The Sweeter He Grows.” This is absolutely true! Don’t settle for being a follower when you can become a disciple!

PRAYER:  Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help all who read these words to become disciples, passionately in love with You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 5:12-16 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

A new sect has appeared, one inspired by a Galilean carpenter, of all people. And unlike so many of the previous rebellious groups, these people are preaching about the kingdom of God and healing people and delivering them from demons. BUT these Jesus followers are proclaiming that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the presence of Jesus and that after a shameful death by crucifixion, he has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven.
“HERESY!” think Jewish high council members…all except Gamaliel.

Acts 5:29-39 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Later, Paul is defending himself against accusations brought by Jewish religious leaders. Acts 22:3 tells us, “Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

Rabbi Gamaliel was one of the most respected teachers of the Law, a voice of reason among a group of religious hotheads. Who was Gamaliel? Encyclopedia Britannica gives the following information:

According to tradition—but not historical fact—Gamaliel succeeded his father, Simon, and his grandfather, the renowned sage Hillel (to whose school of thought he belonged), as nasi (president) of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court. It is certain, though, that Gamaliel held a leading position in the Sanhedrin and that he enjoyed the highest repute as a teacher of the Law. He was the first to be given the title rabban (“our master” or “our teacher”). Like his grandfather, Gamaliel was also given the title ha-Zaqen (the Elder). According to tradition, Gamaliel’s grandson was Gamaliel II, also a noted nasi of the Sanhedrin, and his grandson was Judah ha-Nasi (Judah the Prince), who was instrumental in compiling the Mishna.

Gamaliel established a number of lenient ordinances—in particular, laws affecting women and non-Jews. Of his teachings, only one saying is preserved, in the first book of the Pirkei Avot (“Chapters of the Fathers,” often called “Ethics of the Fathers”) within the Mishna: “Make for yourself a mentor, remove yourself from doubt, and do not frequently tithe by estimation.” Gamaliel’s renown is summed up in these words recorded in the Talmud: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, regard for the Torah [Jewish Law] ceased, and purity and piety died.”

According to Christian tradition, Gamaliel embraced Christianity and was baptized by St. Peter and St. John. His body was supposedly discovered in the 5th century and transported to a cathedral in Pisa, Italy. In Eastern Orthodoxy he is considered a saint with a feast day of August 2, the supposed day that his relics were found, and among Roman Catholics his feast day is August 3.

The Jewish Encyclopedia says this about Gamaliel:

Key aspects of the Jewish view of Gamaliel include:

• Supreme Authority: He was a respected authority in the Sanhedrin, known for his deep knowledge of the law.
• “Rabban” Status: He was held in such high esteem that he was the first to be called Rabban, a title higher than Rabbi.
• Legal Leniency: Gamaliel introduced several legal reforms aimed at Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and easing restrictions for women and non-Jews.
• Scholarly Legacy: Only one of his sayings is directly preserved in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers): “Make for yourself a mentor, remove yourself from doubt, and do not frequently tithe by estimation”.
• Talmudic Mention: He is characterized as a towering figure whose death coincided with a significant decline in the level of scholarship and piety in Israel. 

Americans have a favorite saying, “If you can read this, thank a teacher!” Christians should amend that saying to “If the Epistles move you, thank Gamaliel!” What makes a good teacher? An internet search reveals the following:

A good teacher combines subject expertise with core traits like patience, empathy, and adaptability to foster an engaging, inclusive learning environment. They are effective communicators, passionate about their craft, and build strong relationships with students to foster trust and academic success. Ultimately, a good teacher goes beyond delivering information; they build genuine connections that encourage academic risk-taking and personal growth.

 Tikkun Olam (Hebrew for “repairing the world”) is a Jewish concept referring to actions taken to fix, improve, and heal the world, bringing it closer to a state of harmony with divine intent. It encompasses social justice, environmentalism, charity, and ethical behavior, often aiming to alleviate suffering and foster a more equitable society.

By all accounts, Gamaliel passionately taught his students so that each one of them would go out to heal the world by their teaching, their scholarship, and their actions. Later, Saint Paul would write to the Ephesians about the variety of God’s callings. Ephesians 4:11-13 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

When Paul was writing these words, he must have been fondly remembering Gamaliel with his passion, his insight, his sly sense of humor, and his intense love for God. For the rest of Paul’s life, one of his chief sources of inspiration would have been Gamaliel, the prince of scholars and a seeker for truth. And when August 2^nd and 3^rd come, remember Saint Gamaliel, one of the inspirations for the Epistles.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, thank You for creating teachers and gifting them with passion, courage, and dedication. Please help us to bless those who teach us and give us teachable minds. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 16:11-15 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Lydia, featured in Acts 16:13-15, 40, was a wealthy businesswoman and the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Originally from Thyatira, she was a dealer of expensive purple cloth living in Philippi. Upon hearing the Apostle Paul, she believed, was baptized with her household, and provided crucial hospitality to the early church. 

Key Details About Lydia in the Bible:

• Role and Background: She was a “seller of purple goods”—a luxury trade—and was a “worshipper of God” (a Gentile drawn to Judaism).
• Conversion: When Paul visited Philippi (his second missionary journey), Lydia was praying with other women by the river, where the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to Paul’s message

.Hospitality and Leadership: She immediately offered her home to Paul and his companions (Silas, Timothy, and Luke). Her home became a hub for the new church in Philippi.

• Significance: Lydia is recognized as a pioneering woman of faith, demonstrating, leadership, and independence in the early church. 

 https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/lydia-from-the-bible/ gives us the following information about Lydia:

Tyrian Purple

Archaeological finds have shed new light upon the purple dye industry in the Mediterranean world. The purple material was the most desirable and expensive, partially due to its colorfastness. This “Tyrian purple” was wool colored with a dye made from tiny Mediterranean mollusks. Additional methods of purple dyeing utilizing plants and other materials were developed. Thyatira was a center for this purple dye industry. Thus, Lydia may have been a dealer in the Thyatira purple cloth, or she may have been an importer of the royal “Tyrian purple.” Either way, she was a smart, and probably wealthy, businesswoman.

One Sabbath day, Lydia went to the river’s shore that had been designated by the Roman authorities of Philippi as a place of prayer and worship for the Jews. There she met Paul and Silas, who had been in Philippi only a short time. While others along the river may have rejected Paul’s words about Jesus, Lydia accepted them and became a believer (Acts 16:14).

Once she believed, she made a confession of her faith to her whole world through baptism, and then she assembled her entire household, told them what had happened to her, and asked them to believe. After her entire household accepted Christ as Savior and was baptized, Lydia invited Paul and Silas to stay in her home (Acts 16:15). When Paul and Silas were thrown into a Philippian prison, Lydia visited them and attended to their needs. Her house became the meeting place of the first European church.

Lydia was quick to perceive that what had been hers before her conversion—home, business and possessions—now belonged to the Lord.

• She had a new partner—the Lord Jesus
• A new purpose—to serve him
• And a new satisfaction—seeking to be effective and successful in order to glorify the Lord.

Lydia’s career aspirations did not hinder her sharing the gospel with family and friends. And she was not too busy to take time for hospitality (Acts 16:15).

Lydia’s Influence Made a Mark on Generations to Come

Lydia’s name appears in the Bible only twice. She was seemingly the first Gentile convert in Europe and the first believer to open her home as a worship center for European Christians. This benefited not only Paul and the early church but also the lives of future generations of believers. Her life was a model of determination, foresight and generosity that offers encouragement to us today. (Article edited from a study feature in the NIV Woman’s Study Bible.)

Perhaps you don’t feel hospitality is your calling. You don’t think your house is nice enough or clean enough. We had a friend who has since gone to be with Jesus who was one of the most hospitable ladies we knew. This lady’s house was clean but messy. You might have to shift a pile of magazines off a chair if you wanted a place to sit. But nobody ever left that house unloved, uncomforted, or unfed. Every Christmas and New Year’s Day, our friend would make huge pots of soup and feed all comers. Our friend had a wonderful sign that read “If you’ve come to me, come anytime! If you want to see the house, make an appointment!”

 Lydia undoubtedly had a highly organized household with lots of servants, plenty of food and drink, and comfortable rooms for guests. But hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated.

Offer what you have and God will bless it-and you!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that You bring people to us, expecting only that we will give what we have in love. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 4:32-37 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Joses didn’t think he’d done anything very wonderful. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Joses sold some land he had inherited and donated the money to the apostles. Joses was one of those men with a perpetual smile. No matter how bad the weather, no matter how frightening the threats from Jewish religious leaders, no matter how many personal conflicts others were having, Joses continued to smile and deal quietly and effectively with problems. Donating the proceeds from the land sale just seemed to be the right thing to do. Too bad that some others in the church, a couple named Ananias and Sapphira, sold land and then held back some of the proceeds while lying that they were donating the full price just as Joses had done. Those lies resulted in Ananias and Sapphira being struck dead by the Lord.

Say the name “Joses” to most Christians and they won’t recognize it. But say “Barnabas” and lots of people will recognize the name instantly. “Barnabas” means “son of encouragement” and is an affectionate nickname Joses earned by his sunny disposition and his willingness to cheer others on, seeing the best in them. From this point on, Joses would forever be known as Barnabas.

Acts 9:26-30 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

“Saul of Tarsus has become a Christian??? Are you kidding me?” Once Saul escaped from Damascus, he immediately made his way to Jerusalem, where he expected the Christians to welcome him with open arms. But these were the same people Saul had recently been persecuting, and they had no intention of trusting this guy. For all the Christians knew, Saul might be play-acting to entice Christians to expose themselves so that Jewish religious leaders could capture them. Only when Barnabas met with Saul and then met with church leaders did the church leaders relax. But the church leaders rapidly realized they had a tiger by the tail, for Saul immediately took on the Hellenists, the very people whose accusations had led to Stephen’s death. Church leadership had to hustle Saul off to the port of Caesarea, where he caught a ship for Tarsus.

Acts 11:19-26 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

One of the hallmarks of Barnabas’ ministry was his humility. Recognizing that Saul was a brilliant scholar and speaker, Barnabas had no problems recruiting Saul and bringing him to Antioch to teach.

Acts 13:1-5 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John Mark as their assistant.

As a Cypriot, for Barnabas, returning to Cyprus was returning home. And Saul and Barnabas were taking John Mark, a young cousin of Barnabas, with them as an assistant. This first missionary journey would set the tone for the rest of Barnabas’ life, for he would continue traveling, preaching, and encouraging for the rest of his life. When Judaizers tried to force Gentile converts to Christianity to follow Jewish laws, Saul, now Paul, and Barnabas were the ones sent to Jerusalem to settle the matter with church leaders. (Acts 15)

Eventually, Barnabas separated from Paul, not because he disliked him but because Paul refused to take John Mark along on his second missionary journey. John Mark had left Paul and Barnabas at Pamphylia, refusing to accompany them at that point. Paul rejected John Mark as an unreliable quitter, while Barnabas felt John Mark was simply young and inexperienced and had the potential to do far better. Once more, Barnabas was living up to that nickname. Although this dispute created some friction, ultimately, Barnabas and John Mark returned to Cyprus while Paul recruited Silas to accompany him, thus doubling the number of missionary outreach teams.

According to tradition and the apocryphal Acts of Barnabas, Saint Barnabas was martyred around AD 61 in Salamis, Cyprus. He was reportedly stoned to death by Jews who were angered by his successful preaching. Another account suggests he was bound with a rope, dragged, and then burned to death. There’s one thing we can be sure of: Barnabas died trying to point as many people to Jesus as possible, remaining a “son of encouragement” to the very end.

What can we learn from Barnabas? Barnabas was faithful, generous, honest, and humble. Although Barnabas interacted well with people, there’s nothing to indicate that he was unusually wealthy or highly educated. Barnabas demonstrated his humility while recruiting Saul from Tarsus, thus launching Saul’s missionary travels. Barnabas salvaged John Mark’s career as a missionary when Saul would have marked him as a failure. Barnabas continued to see the best in people and to encourage them to live up to the divine standard wherever he went.

Any one of us can be a son or daughter of encouragement. If we eat in a restaurant or buy something in a store and we receive excellent service, my husband will find the supervisor and praise the worker in front of their supervisor. My husband thanks janitors, cleaners, and other service personnel who remain invisible to many passers-by. Kind words and sincere smiles cost nothing but may save lives. There’s a frequently repeated story of a high school kid who was walking home when he noticed one of his classmates carrying a huge load of books. The boy helped carry the books and then invited the other boy back to his home, where they played video games together and then enjoyed supper together. After that day, the boys became friends, sharing meals, playing, and attending school games together. At graduation, the boy who had carried the huge load of books gave a speech as the top student in his class. That was the day that everyone learned that when he was heading home with all his books, he had cleaned out his locker and was going home to kill himself because he felt nobody cared about him. When the second boy helped him and then shared games and a meal with him, the depressed boy changed his mind, rejecting the idea of suicide. You never know when you might become someone else’s lifeline.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to become enthusiastic encouragers, knowing that You are the Source of all comfort, all hope, and all joy. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

He had everything a young man could possibly want-great looks, a brilliant mind, parents willing to sacrifice for his first-class education, and unlimited opportunities. Yes, if anybody had it altogether, that man was Augustine. Aurelius Augustine was born in 354 at Tagaste, Algeria. He was the son of Patricius, a non-believer, and his devout Catholic wife, Monica. Augustine’s mother enrolled her son as a catechumen as a child. However, Augustine’s baptism was deferred to a later time in accordance with custom.

In his early years, Augustine possessed an inquisitive mind. He set his sights on a career that would bring him both wealth and fame. Augustine’s parents heartily endorsed their son’s career goals and wanted to provide their son with the best education.

Following his studies in Tagaste and later in Carthage, Tunisia, Augustine taught rhetoric. He first served as a teacher in his native town and later became a teacher in Rome and Milan.

Augustine traveled from city to city and encountered many opportunities and challenges along the way. He was also on a deep spiritual journey, searching for inner peace and lasting happiness.

Saint Augustine was called to Christianity in 386 AD through a profound spiritual crisis in a Milan garden, prompted by hearing a child’s voice chant “Tolle, lege” (“take up and read”). He opened a Bible to Romans 13:13-14, urging him to abandon sinful living for Christ, which immediately erased his doubts and led to his baptism by Bishop Ambrose. 

Key elements of his conversion included:

• The “Tolle, Lege” Experience: In a garden, struggling with his immoral lifestyle, Augustine heard a child’s voice say “take up and read, take up and read” (Latin: Tolle, lege), which he interpreted as a divine command.
• Scripture Passage: He opened to Romans 13:13-14, which reads, “…not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ…”. This instantly filled him with peace and removed his hesitation.
• Influence of St. Monica and St. Ambrose: His mother, Monica, prayed for his conversion for 17 years, and the preaching of Ambrose of Milan helped him intellectually overcome previous objections to Christianity.
• Final Decision: Following this experience, he abandoned his career in rhetoric, left his mistress, and was baptized alongside his son, Adeodatus, and friend Alypius in 387 AD. 
• In Tagaste, Augustine, Adeodatus, and several of their companions prayed, worked, and lived together in fellowship. They shared their insights about Scripture and the Christian vocation and learned from one another.
• After three years, Augustine was called to become a priest while on a visit to the city of Hippo, about 50 miles from Tagaste. This was contrary to what Augustine might have chosen for himself, but he still chose to accept what he believed was God’s will for him.
• In Hippo, Augustine established a monastic community that he directed while assisting the bishop, Valerius. Several years later, Augustine succeeded Valerius as head of the diocese.
• Augustine was hesitant to move into the bishop’s house, since he did not want to disturb the peace of the monastic community. At this point, Augustine wrote his Rule for the community’s continued direction. He then established a third community for clerics in his new episcopal residence. Thus, from the time of his return to Tagaste until his death, Augustine resolutely opted for a monastic style of community life.
• As bishop, Augustine found his desired life of contemplation and separation from worldly concerns. He focused on his many obligations as leader of the local Church and as a civil official. In addition to his pastoral duties within Hippo, Augustine traveled to church councils in the region of North Africa. He did so 40 to 50 times over the course of the 35 years he served as bishop. Augustine even made the nine-day journey to Carthage for meetings with other bishops about 30 times.
• Augustine’s extensive travels were physically demanding, but they may be considered modest when they are compared to his writings and sermons. Over the course of Augustine’s lifetime, he wrote over 200 books and nearly 1,000 sermons, letters, and other works.

Eventually, Augustine died on August 28, 430 AD, at the age of 75 in Hippo Regius (modern-day Annaba, Algeria). He passed away from a fever during the siege of the city by the Vandals.

Scholar, teacher, prolific writer, developer of Church policies, founder of the Augustinian monastic order, and indefatigable defender of the faith, particularly his version of it-Saint Augustine packed more into one life than hundreds of people taken together might accomplish. But above all else, Augustine was brutally honest about his life before he accepted Christ, documenting his depredations and moral failures as part of his Confessions.  

What can we learn from Saint Augustine? Anybody is raw material for sainthood. Augustine could have pursued a brilliant if morally flawed academic career; however, he turned away from a moral mess to wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ. One of Augustine’s most memorable quotes, one that continues to resonate with many of us is this: Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. 

This is part of a larger prayer, one well worth studying and repeating. Lord, teach me to praise Thee. “Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and of Thy wisdom there is no end. And man, being a part of Thy creation, desires to praise Thee, man, who bears about with him his mortality, the witness of his sin, even the witness that Thou “resistest the proud, ” – yet man, this part of Thy creation, desires to praise Thee. Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. Lord, teach me to know and understand which of these should be first, to call on Thee, or to praise Thee; and likewise to know Thee, or to call upon Thee.

Oh! how shall I find rest in Thee? Who will send Thee into my heart to inebriate it, s that I may forget my woes, and embrace Thee my only good? What art Thou to me? Have compassion on me, that I may speak. What am I to Thee that Thou demandest my love, and unless I give it Thee art angry, and threatenest me with great sorrows? Is it, then, a light sorrow not to love Thee? Alas! alas! tell me of Thy compassion, O Lord my God, what Thou art to me. “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” So speak that I may hear. Behold, Lord, the ears of my heart are before Thee; open Thou them, and “say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” When I hear, may I run and lay hold on Thee. Hide not Thy face from me. Let me die, lest I die, if only I may see Thy face.” St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, 1,1.5

Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. 

This is part of a larger prayer, one well worth studying and repeating. Lord, teach me to praise Thee. “Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and of Thy wisdom there is no end. And man, being a part of Thy creation, desires to praise Thee, man, who bears about with him his mortality, the witness of his sin, even the witness that Thou “resistest the proud, ” – yet man, this part of Thy creation, desires to praise Thee. Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. Lord, teach me to know and understand which of these should be first, to call on Thee, or to praise Thee; and likewise to know Thee, or to call upon Thee.

Oh! how shall I find rest in Thee? Who will send Thee into my heart to inebriate it, s that I may forget my woes, and embrace Thee my only good? What art Thou to me? Have compassion on me, that I may speak. What am I to Thee that Thou demandest my love, and unless I give it Thee art angry, and threatenest me with great sorrows? Is it, then, a light sorrow not to love Thee? Alas! alas! tell me of Thy compassion, O Lord my God, what Thou art to me. “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” So speak that I may hear. Behold, Lord, the ears of my heart are before Thee; open Thou them, and “say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” When I hear, may I run and lay hold on Thee. Hide not Thy face from me. Let me die, lest I die, if only I may see Thy face.” St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, 1,1.5

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to truly find our rest in You, to fix our minds on You and to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 8:26-40 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”

So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

When the disciples were choosing men to assist in the distribution of supplies to needy Greek Christians, Philip was one of those chosen along with Stephen who was later martyred. Now it was Philip’s turn to let God’s power shine through him.

When Philip got up that morning, the last thing he anticipated was that God would send him out into the desert along the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. But Philip was obedient; if God wanted him to go into the desert, he was already on the way. And this order contained a divine appointment, for an upper-level Ethiopian official had just finished worshiping in Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia in his chariot. While Saul’s encounter with God on the road to Damascus was vividly dramatic, by contrast, this man’s encounter with God could not have been quieter, for he was convinced by reading the Book of Isaiah and listening to Philip’s explanation. This man’s biggest qualification to become a believer was the hunger for God in his heart, and that particular morning, God assigned Philip to assuage that hunger.

Timing is everything. Just as Philip appeared, the Ethiopian was reading a portion from Isaiah describing Messiah as the suffering servant. The Ethiopian read this, sighed, and wished someone would explain it to him. Suddenly, prodded by the Holy Spirit, Philip ran up to the chariot just in time to give the desired explanation.

Notice something: even though Philip and the Ethiopian were on a desert road, suddenly, just when it was needed, there was a handy pool of water in which Philip could baptize the Ethiopian. Few things are drier than the Judean desert, and few things are rarer than pools of water; yet, there was the water.

Saul of Tarsus was far more extensively acquainted with the Book of Isaiah than was the Ehiopian; yet, the Ethiopian believed once Philip explained things to him while it took a cataclysmic event to convert Saul. The difference was simple: humility. Saul was arrogant, a “Pharisee of the Pharisees,” certain that he was right and that he was doing God’s will, even though he was actually doing his will in God’s Name. The Ethiopian was a humble seeker after truth; therefore, he recognized truth when he heard it and readily believed in Jesus as Messiah.

John told the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well at noon, a time when she came to avoid scathing criticisms from self-righteous townspeople. Jesus told that lady, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  The Ethiopian worshiped in spirit and in truth and believed and was baptized straight away.

Psalm 95:7-11 tells us, “Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The Ethiopian eunuch received Jesus as Savior and Lord, was baptized, and went on his way rejoicing. What about you? Do you honor Jesus as Savior and Lord and Messiah, or are you playing religious games, feeling that you are so special that God should send you a Damascus Road experience? God did what He had to is gain Saul’s attention; however, God honored the Ethiopian’s decision just as surely as He did Saul’s. Jesus told Thomas his disciple, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

When we repent and honor Jesus as Savior and Lord, all the saints and angels rejoice. Today, why not make that decision? Why not choose to follow Jesus, so that all of heaven will rejoice?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that we cannot free ourselves from our sins. We thank You that because You have offered Yourself as the ultimate blood sacrifice, we can claim what You have done for us. Please cleanse us from our sins, forgive us, and help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives so that we will spend eternity with You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 7:54-60 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen never intended to become a martyr. Actually, Stephen’s assignment was to ensure that the Greeks receiving Jesus would not be neglected in the daily distributions of assistance to widows and orphans in the church. But as Stephen worked, signs and wonders followed him wherever he went, and Greeks from the Synagogue of the Freemen brought accusations against him. Stephen testified powerfully about Jesus, destroying all the arguments from his critics and humiliating them in the process. In a rage, Stephen’s accusers whipped up Jewish sentiment against him, inspiring the mob to stone him. And standing at one side, watching the pile of garments the mob had cast off in their haste, was a young scholar from the school of Gamaliel named Saul of Tarsus. Smugly, Saul watched, certain that such a fate was all these upstart followers of a renegade Jewish carpenter deserved. Certainly, he would do his part to stamp out this new sect, even if it meant murder. Of course, God would approve of such deeds!

Acts 8:1-3 Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Acts 9:1-8 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Nothing in Saul’s life had prepared him for this experience! All Saul’s life he had lived as a Pharisee of the Pharisees, observing every jot and tittle of the Mosaic Law, studying the Law carefully, and persecuting anyone who refused to follow it minutely. Saul was a brilliant scholar, someone who could destroy any argument with a lifted eyebrow and a few choice words. Certainly, Saul was bound for religious greatness…or was he?

Ananias Baptizes Saul

Acts 9:10-19 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Well! Nothing in Saul’s life up til then had prepared him to have someone whose religious qualifications he didn’t know laying hands on him and praying for him. But while Saul sat blind for those three days, God was working in his heart. A brilliant scholar, now Saul was sitting as God brought one scripture to mind after another. As God reminded Saul of His Word, Saul began to realize that he had made a horrible mistake. The Messiah for whom he claimed to long HAD come, and Messiah’s Name was Jesus of Nazareth. Saul had committed the worst sin possible, for he had rejected Messiah. By the time Ananias arrived at the house where Saul was staying, Saul was weeping silent tears of repentance, been cured of spiritual blindness. Now Saul was longing for the touch of Ananias’ hand to release him from his physical blindness, impatient to begin his new life.

Saul Preaches Christ

Acts 9:20-25 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

Nobody had ever accused Saul of Tarsus of being lazy! As soon as Saul regained his sight, he marched into the nearest synagogue and began preaching that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Jewish religious leaders who had looked forward to Saul’s arrival now viewed him with consternation. Was this really the hot young religious zealot promised by the religious leaders in Jerusalem? True, this guy was brilliant; however, he was convincingly arguing that Messiah had come and his Name was Jesus of Nazareth! This transformation was an unmitigated disaster; best get rid of this man as soon as possible, for each time he spoke, more Jews were becoming convinced that Jesus was Messiah.

There’s an old story about a fellow who had a mule that needed to be trained. This mule owner engaged an expert trainer to help, and the first thing the trainer did when he arrived was to take a big stick and knock the mule up alongside the head!
“Why did you do that?” the mule owner asked. “Oh, that’s just to get his attention,” the trainer answered. When God struck Saul with blindness on the road to Damascus, that was the spiritual equivalent of knocking Saul up alongside the head with a big stick. Nothing less would have convinced Saul to change his mind and his heart. Even after the experience on the road, God still allowed Saul to endure 3 days of physical blindness so that he could consider how blind he had been spiritually.

Ever since Saul became Paul, people who have been dragging their feet about accepting Jesus as Lord have quoted Saul’s experience, as if they too would accept Jesus if God would demonstrate His power as He did for Saul. What specious nonsense! If such people believe in God sufficiently to demand an experience similar to Saul’s, they should be able to believe without being struck blind for three days. God’s calling is different for each individual, and the idea that God must do something dramatic before an individual will believe indicates the pride of the individual and a total lack of understanding of the nature of God. God is not a performing lion; He will not jump through hoops for the entertainment of crowds. To demand that God perform for us means that we are totally ignorant of the Nature of God or His attributes.

When God struck Saul blind, Saul had no way of knowing whether or not the blindness was temporary or permanent. It took three days for Saul to yield up his will to God, accepting whatever fate God might have in store for him, including permanent blindness. If someone is demanding God to perform to their standards, they will never accept his Lordship, for they will always find some new test.  

God knows each of us far better than we know ourselves. God is the One who calls, and at the end, the only thing that matters is this: Will we honor God and answer His call, or will we dishonor Him by demanding conditions?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to realize that You are the One who calls, You are the One who sets conditions, and You are the One who knows the human heart. Help all who read these words to deal with You truly. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 5:27-32 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

It’s early morning in the town of Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is ambling down the main street, ostensibly entertaining himself by observing the bustle of roadside merchants, Roman soldiers, women hurrying to do their marketing, tradesmen plying their crafts. As far as those surrounding Jesus can tell, Jesus is simply amused by everything he sees, smiling and greeting people, waving at those at a distance. But Jesus has a purpose this morning; actually, he always has a purpose, something his followers are yet to realize. And this morning, the Holy Spirit is directing Jesus to a strange place, the tax collector’s office.

Nobody likes tax collectors! Tax collectors work for the hated Roman government but enrich themselves by padding people’s bills, inflating them to the advantage of the bill collector. The Pharisees, the professional religious people, scorn the tax collectors, even though some of these same men engage in sharp business practices every bit as heartless as the men whom they are mocking. Levi, son of Alphaeus is one of the tax collectors for Capernaum and has already opened his kiosk to take advantage of early morning business. Levi is well-educated; however, he comes from an impoverished family and has made up his mind that he will never be poor again. That resolve lasts right up until the moment that a shadow falls on Levi’s desk, and he looks up into the face of Jesus.

What does Levi see as he looks into that smiling face with those flashing dark eyes? Sure, Levi has heard about Jesus, who hasn’t? Being in the marketplace, Levi gets all the latest gossip and everybody is marveling over this former carpenter from Galilee who speaks about Yahweh as if he knows Him personally. But now there’s something compelling in those eyes, as if Jesus knows everything about Levi, the shame of poverty, the years of struggling, the scorn from Roman soldiers, the sting of continual rejection by religious leaders. Yes, Jesus sees everything about Levi and knows everything, and yet Jesus is gazing upon Levi as if Levi is a delightful close friend, a brother, and the very person Jesus has most wanted to meet on this bright sunny morning.

Levi is struck speechless, something that almost never happens. Normally, Levi is the one who can talk to anybody, convincing them to pay heavy taxes without clouting him. Now Levi feels as if his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth. And then Jesus speaks, “Follow me and be my disciple.” Without consciously thinking about it, Levi stands up, shutting the front of the kiosk. Levi gathers up his records and the money he’s collected, handing them to another one of the tax collectors, and then leaves to speak to Jesus.

“Lord,” Levi says hesitantly, “Would you be pleased to honor me with your presence at a noon meal at my home today?”

Jesus grins at Levi as if he’s simply been waiting for this invitation. “Absolutely, Levi! And be sure to invite your friends as well.”

Well! Levi has thrown dinner parties before, but today’s celebration will be the most important one of his life, as well as the last one he will ever put on. Luke tells the story, and you can imagine that he must have thoroughly interviewed Levi to gain this information.

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

That bright morning in Capernaum marked a watershed in Levi’s life. Not only did Levi turn his back on his profession as a tax collector, but he even changed his name to Matthew. The name Levi means “joined, attached, or “united in harmony.” The name Matthew is derived from the Hebrew name  Matityahu, and means “Gift of Yahweh” or “Gift of God.” Matthew truly became a gift of God, for not only did he become one of the original twelve disciples, but he wrote the Gospel aimed most clearly at Jews interested in Jesus. Following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, Matthew preached in Judea for fifteen years before preaching in Macedonia, Persia, Syria, and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, Matthew converted and protected a woman named Ephigenia, who had consecrated herself to God. When King Hirtacus succeeded the previous king, he sought to marry her and, enraged by Matthew’s refusal, ordered his death. Matthew died from a stab wound in the back while leading a church service.

What could possibly cause a flint-hearted tax collector willing to crush poor people for money to abandon a luxurious home, a steady income, and a comfortable way of life to follow an itinerant preacher? Love! When Jesus looked at Matthew, the unconditional love of God poured from his eyes. Matthew suddenly felt he was in the presence of someone who knew everything about him, including murderous thoughts about his competitors and the Romans, and loved him anyway. That love was so compelling that nothing else mattered.

Later, Matthew might have compared experiences with Peter, Andrew, James, and John. And each one of them would say the same thing: that the love of God as embodied in Jesus Christ was worth any amount of suffering. Later Saint Paul would describe the love of God this way: “For the love of Christ compels us )2 Corinthians 5:14) That love would compel Matthew to write, describing the life of Jesus. That love would drive Matthew to walk all over Judea, preaching. And eventually, that love would compel Matthew to travel to other countries, eventually dying in Ethiopia.

What can we learn from the story of Matthew’s call? Once Jesus calls you, nothing is as important as following him. There’s an old Gospel song that Matthew would have approved of.

In fancy I stood by the shore, one day,
Of the beautiful murm’ring sea;
I saw the great crowds as they thronged the way
Of the Stranger of Galilee;
I saw how the man who was blind from birth,
In a moment was made to see;
The lame was made whole by the matchless skill
Of the Stranger of Galilee.

I heard Him speak peace to the angry waves,
Of that turbulent, raging sea;
And lo! at His word are the waters stilled,
This Stranger of Galilee;
A peaceful, a quiet, and holy calm,
Now and ever abides with me;
He holdeth my life in His mighty hands,
This Stranger of Galilee.

And I felt I could love Him forever,
So gracious and tender was He!
I claimed Him that day as my Savior,
This Stranger,
He’s no Stranger,
But the Savior of Galilee.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please let everyone who reads these words experience Your compelling love. Let them realize that You see them as they are, but You love them anyway. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

It all started because Jesus walked by the seaside early that morning. Those first disciples were about to get the shock of their lives. That morning, four fishermen were completing an unfulfilling night’s work and hoping for better things the next night. By evening of that same day, they had left their businesses and their families to follow Jesus. But the accounts differ.

Matthew 4:18-22 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Luke 5:1-11 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

John 1:35-51 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.

They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).

Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

 Four different Gospel writers have four different accounts of Jesus calling his first disciples. I have omitted Mark’s account because it is so similar to that of Matthew. But which one is the correct account? The answer is all of them. John was a partner or at least a colleague of Andrew and Peter in the fishing business, so they likely told him the story of Andrew introducing Peter to Jesus. That doesn’t preclude Jesus later requesting Peter to push out from land so that Jesus could sit in Peter’s boat and preach without being trampled by the crowds. And if James and John were sitting repairing nets, they would certainly have responded eagerly to Peter’s frantic calls for help as his overburdened nets threatened to sink his boat.

How frequently do eyewitnesses agree? An AI internet search reveals the following: Eyewitnesses rarely agree on all the details of an event. Studies and legal experience show that when multiple people witness the same incident, they usually provide slightly different versions, largely due to variations in perspective, attention, memory, and cognitive filtering. 

Cold Case Christianity

Here is a breakdown of how many witnesses agree, based on psychological research and legal statistics:

• Rare Absolute Agreement: It is almost unheard of for multiple witnesses to agree on every single detail, even in simple scenarios.
• Contamination (71% Agreement): A major risk in multiple-witness scenarios is “co-witness contamination,” where witnesses discuss the event afterward. Research indicates that 71% of witnesses may change their accounts to include false information that their co-witnesses mentioned.
• High Error Rate (1 in 3): The American Psychological Association estimates that roughly one in three (33%) eyewitnesses make an erroneous identification.
• Multiple Wrong Witnesses (38% of Cases): In cases of wrongful conviction, studies have found that in 38% of cases, multiple eyewitnesses wrongly identified the same innocent person.
• The “3-Witness Rule” (General Rule of Thumb): In practice, if three different witnesses tell the exact same, perfect story, it can actually be a sign of contamination or coaching, as normal human perception is too varied for perfect consensus. 

Cold Case Christianity +4

Factors Affecting Agreement:

• Stress and Violence: High-stress events, such as violent crimes, lead to less accurate, inconsistent, and lower-quality recall.
• Post-Event Discussion: 86% of eyewitnesses discuss the event with others, which can align their stories—but often by creating a shared false memory rather than confirming the truth.
• Time and Memory Decay: Memory fades rapidly immediately following an event, causing more discrepancies as time passes. 

ScienceDirect.com +1

Conclusion:
While having multiple witnesses is generally better than one, it is normal and expected for them to disagree on specific details. When they do agree, it is sometimes due to memory contamination rather than accurate, independent recollection. 

So, four different writers vary in their descriptions, but the one salient fact is this: Jesus called four Galilean fishermen as his first disciples, and they left everything behind to follow him. If these men had regrets, they never spoke about it. There were some questions, though. When a rich young ruler turned away after Jesus advised him to sell everything and follow him, Peter spoke up. Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.” (Luke 18:28-30)

When Jesus spoke, these men heard God calling them so compulsively that they felt they must follow Jesus, even though it cost them everything-wealth, standing in the community, safety, and security. Eventually, eleven of the disciples died as martyrs while John was the only one to die of old age, and even he had been boiled in oil in an attempt to kill him.

What kept these men going? Why were they willing to commit so completely? Saint Paul would later give an answer in Romans 8:35-39. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Those fishermen followed Jesus and never looked back. If you could interview Andrew or Peter or James or John today, they would simply say, “It was worth it! We lost earth to gain heaven.” Today, what choice will you make? Will you follow Jesus, losing earth to gain heaven?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please speak to the hearts of all who read these words, that they may know You as Savior and Lord. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 19:15-21

Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

When Elijah fled from wicked Queen Jezebel, he wound up in a cave at Mount Horeb. There God encouraged Elijah and gave him specific orders to anoint three men to continue the work God had started through him. The first person Elijah anointed was Elisha the son of Shaphat, a wealthy landowner from the village of Abel-Meholah in the Jordan Valley. Elisha was to succeed Elijah in his prophetic ministry.

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”

Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”

So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

Elisha was working in the field when Elijah walked up and threw his cloak over Elisha’s shoulders. Elisha immediately slaughtered his oxen, fed the meat to the neighbors, bade farewell to his parents, and followed Elijah. But God was about to dramatically confirm Elisha’s call.

2 Kings 2:1-14 Elijah Is Taken into Heaven and Elisha Receives his Call from God

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.

The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”

“Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho.

Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”

“Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.”

But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.

Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”

And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

Elisha had one of the most dramatic calls recorded. First, Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha’s shoulders and then Elisha watched as Elijah was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot. Elisha’s persistence earned him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and anointing, setting him up for a magnificent future ministry.

One of the most important things Elisha did was to shadow Elijah, observing Elijah’s every move. From the day that Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha, Elisha copied Elijah’s prayer practices and his behavior as a prophet. Elisha’s humility and his servant’s heart gained him the spiritual power he desired.

What can we learn from Elisha’s call? First, ask God to show you the person whose ministry you are to study. Second, be humble and learn as much as possible. Third, keep praying! Even if you are learning from someone else, God will still give you your own ministry; God never does anything the same way twice. And finally, give God the chance to do miracles; after all, He’s the One who empowers us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to seek Your Will for our lives and to remain humble so that we can learn as much from fellow believers as possible. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.