With our new life in Christ we have been given a new purpose.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1:17

Jacob Davis was a tailor with a problem. It was the height of the Gold Rush in the 1800s American West and the gold miners’ work pants kept wearing out. His solution? Davis went to a local dry goods company owned by Levi Strauss, purchased tent cloth, and made work pants from that heavy, sturdy material—and blue jeans were born. Today, denim jeans in a variety of forms (including Levi’s) are among the most popular clothing items in the world, and all because tent material was given a new purpose.

Simon and his friends were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus arrived and called them to follow Him. He gave them a new purpose. No longer would they fish for fish. As Jesus told them, “Come, follow me, . . . and I will send you out to fish for people” (Mark 1:17).

With this new purpose set for their lives, these men were taught and trained by Jesus so that, after His ascension, they could be used by God to capture the hearts of people with the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ. 

Today, we follow in their steps as we share the good news of Christ’s love and salvation.

May our lives both declare and exhibit this love that can change the lives, purposes, and eternal destinies of others.

Help me, Lord, to represent You well so that others might be drawn to Your love and salvation.

在基督里的新生命，有新意义也有新目标。

耶稣对他们说：“来跟从我！我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”-马可福音1章17节

在十九世纪美国西部的淘金热中，裁缝师雅各·戴维斯（Jacob Davis）发现金矿工人的工作裤很容易磨损。为了解决这个问题，他就到当地一家由李维·斯特劳斯（Levi Strauss）经营的五金行，购买做帐篷的帆布，来裁制工人的工作裤。这种由厚重耐磨的布料所制成的工作裤，让蓝色牛仔裤就此诞生。如今，各式各样的牛仔装（包括Levi’s），成了最受欢迎的一种服饰，全因为这原本制作帐篷的布料有了新的用途、新的意义。

西门和他的朋友是在加利利海捕鱼的渔夫。后来耶稣呼召他们来跟随祂，并赋予他们的生命新的意义。他们不再是捕鱼的渔夫，如同耶稣对他们说：“来跟从我！我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”（马可福音1章17节）

主耶稣让门徒的生命有了新的意义，并且教导训练他们，好让门徒能在耶稣升天后为上帝所用，传扬基督钉十架和复活的信息，成为得人的渔夫。今天，当我们与人分享基督慈爱和救恩的福音，我们就跟他们一样，得人如得鱼。

愿我们的生命能够宣扬并流露基督的爱，祂的爱能改变人的生命、意义和永恒的结局。

主啊！助我更像祢，
吸引人们得见祢的慈爱和救恩。

Mark 1:16-22New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 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.17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

整理：于姊妹