Posted on Mon, June 17, 2019 at 08:37 a.m. (EST) & Mon, June 17, 2019 at 07:07 p.m. (IST),  JUNE 2019 Edition

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Procrastination Renders Our Calling Rusty As Savior's Truth Is Not Accepted Totally In Our Nature!(P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.I.O.N)

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
"At once they left their nets and went along with him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him." (Mark 1:19-20, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what does Jesus do?
1.
Jesus takes along Simon and Andrew as they left their nets at once and went along with Jesus.
2. Jesus went a little farther after calling Simon and Andrew.
3. Jesus saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat preparing their nets.
4. Jesus calls them without delay.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why is it interesting that Simon and Andrew leave their nets at once and went along with Jesus?

It is interesting that Simon and Andrew leave their nets at once and went along with Jesus because there was no delay on their part but at once. They never said, let me finish my job and when I retire, I will come follow you. On the contrary, they follow Jesus right away when He calls them to a mission.

I asked myself why is it interesting that Jesus calls James and John 'without delay'?
With Jesus there is a sense of urgency when it comes to the Gospel and sharing the Kingdom of God so when Jesus had the opportunity and timing to call disciples to follow Him to carry out His mission through them, He did. It becomes that much more interesting when we realize that both of the brothers James and John were in the family business of fishing with their dad but still Jesus calls them without delay.

Without delay shows there is no procrastination with Jesus. Jesus started His ministry and looked for helpers immediately to help Him carry it through. That is so cool that Jesus turned to fallible human beings to help accomplish His purposes. James and John at hearing the voice of Jesus leave their father Zebedee with the hired help and follow Jesus even as Simon and Andrew follow Jesus.

(To be continued...)

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
When Jesus started his ministry, there is no procrastination with Jesus. Jesus did not delay to look for help to help Him carry His ministry through. I should not delay to seek help when I am doing God's ministry for His honor and glory. I need to seek help without trying to do it alone. Not only that, the implications can be far reaching addressing the issue of not procrastinating in things that need to be done. Jesus did not say to Himself, 'I will call them some other time because I have Peter and Andrew' right now! No,
Jesus called them without delay! I too should not procrastinate in ministry or other areas of life but should have a sense of urgency especially when it comes to reaching souls for Christ.

When my loving daddy was in the hospital, my mommy had an urgency to let my dad know more and more about Jesus. While my dad was in the hospital bed, my loving mommy would read Psalms and the entire New Testament almost everyday from start to finish. Every moment she used the opportunity she had to share God's Word with my dad. This went on for 70 days and on the 70th day my daddy gave his life to the Lord taking his last breath here on earth but continuing his eternal breath for eternity in the loving arms of Jesus Christ. This all happened because of our prayers and my mom's diligence in reaching my daddy for Christ while he was in bed.

I ask you now dear friend, without P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.I.O.N, what are you called to do?
Dear friend, without delay, Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Jesus. Each one of us is called to follow Jesus, be with Jesus, and do things for Jesus without delay. Without delay, the Lord Jesus could also be putting things on your heart to start. As Simon, Andrew, James, and John followed Jesus without delay, you and I should start to do things we know the Lord wants us to do. There should not be any procrastination at all. Help us Lord Jesus!

Speaking of 'without delay', I have a bad habit of trying to do things on my own in my own timings but that can be disastrous especially in ministry. I have faltered in ministry many times because of procrastination. The sad thing about procrastination is that it not only hurts us in ministry but our team of coworkers. This is one of my weaknesses I shared with Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, Calvin, and Jesse as my precious wife Chandraleela and I work with them to lead International Game Night! I need them to hold me accountable because procrastination has been a thorn in my thigh. I know how many things I have lost because of procrastination but I also know the grace of the Lord Jesus in restoring some of the things I have lost. It would be better not to procrastinate.

As Jesus did not procrastinate but sought help without delay in ministry, I should not procrastinate in the things I know the Lord Jesus has called me to do. Help me Jesus!

If you are a student, you need to work hard in your studies as unto the Lord. As much as possible as time allows and permits, you should work on your assignments without delay for the honor and glory of the Lord.

"Work hard and become a leader. Be lazy and never succeed!" (Proverbs 12:24)

If you are a worker, you need to work hard at your jobs and do things you need to do without delay for the honor and glory of the Lord.

If you are parent, son, daughter, wife, husband, etc, you need to take care of things in the family without putting it of whether it is saying to someone, 'I LOVE YOU', going to someone's games, spending quality time with them, etc  without putting it off.

Have you promised someone something but are procrastinating in doing it by putting it off?

Go and do what you promised.

"God delights in those who keep their promises but abhors those that don't!" (Proverbs 12)

When we do things without delay, we are also showing the Lord Jesus that we have put our whole trust in Him to accomplish His purposes through us. But, when we do delay things, it is usually because of fear of not doing something perfectly. Procrastination has its root in trying to do everything so perfectly on our own. If we think we don't have time to do something so perfectly, we keep putting it of for some other time. But the Lord Jesus does not want that for you and me friend. He wants you and I to trust in Him and do our responsibilities as unto the Lord. He will take care of the rest. Yes, He will friend.

Isn't that exciting to know?

I know it is for me.

More than anything there should never be procrastination when it comes to reaching others with the love of Christ. We should not ever think to ourselves that we are not trained well enough, we are not equipped, enabled, or empowered well enough to share Christ with others so let the evangelists and pastors do the reaching out. Hogwash! Christ calls you where you are to follow and serve Him reaching souls for Him in whatever responsibility He has given you. Those negative thoughts are from the enemy to keep you from sharing Christ. When you share Christ with others, the Lord Jesus will take care of the rest. Granted, you need to seek the Lord's wisdom for the time and place.

Don't misunderstand and think there is no need for training when training is available but the point is don't always wait to be trained before you tell others about Jesus. As you are faithful, available, compatible, and teachable my formerPastor Hugo said, the Lord Jesus will take care of the rest. We do our part and leave the results in the Lord's Hands.

All of us have been called to reach others with the love of Christ without delay. Jesus did not delay when it came to the Gospel and neither should we. The more we delay, the more we let sin rule in the hearts of our neighbors who do not know Jesus. The more we delay, the deadly virus continues to take root eating the inside of those that do not know Jesus.

Friend, that is so dangerous when we allow sin to eat the lives of our family members, our friends, our neighbors, etc who do not know Jesus. Jesus called 4 disciples to come follow Him so He can make them fisherman for the souls of men. Jesus knew the importance of not going it alone and also knew how important it was to preach the Good News.

Two thousand years later that urgency has not changed. Procrastination will only lead people further away from Jesus and stay in the arms of Satan and his henchmen. We should in the power of the Holy Spirit want to snatch everyone Satan has a hold on. We can only do that by the power of the Holy Spirit as we depend on Jesus to guide us and lead us.

Friend, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all need the Savior's redemptive intervention and the Lord Jesus has done that for our lives by shedding His precious cleansing blood on the cross to save sinners like you and me. Thank you Jesus!

As the song goes, 'Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found'. This is a song my loving wife Chandraleela and I sang to our loving daughter Esther for the first time when she was 23 weeks old while she listened.

Friend, we know what sin has done in our lives before Christ the Lord has intervened to save us and make us want what He wants us to be. Let us spread the Good News of Jesus Christ without delay so others can experience the love of Jesus Christ to.

Man and God were together in the Garden of Eden but then sin separated that relationship separating man's ways from God's ways. Jesus knew the right timing and came during that timing without delay to save lives and continues to do that by His sacrificial death on the cross to give us the most precious red antidote known to mankind. It is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus!

Only Christ's cleansing blood can wash away all our sins without delay and give us a new life in Christ. We need this new life because apart from Christ, we cannot reach God.

Jesus said, 'I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life, and no man comes to the Father except through me!' (John 14:6, TLB)

Yes, friend, we all need Jesus. I know I do for only through Christ being reflected in our lives can God's judgment pass over us. When God sees us covered in the blood of Christ, He sees the righteousness of Christ covering over us so judgment will pass over us. For that we all need Christ and need to share Christ without delay.

When we procrastinate, we know not what the outcome can be. With procrastination comes regrets too many times: 'Oh I wish I had done that sooner!' 'Oh, I wish I had called so and so, now they are gone', etc.

Each of you know what you need to be doing and you should not put it off as you depend on the Lord to guide you and lead you. Jesus' example of WITHOUT DELAY should motivate us to reach souls for Christ wherever the Lord Jesus has placed us. The important thing is that there needs to be a balance as we depend on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

Most of all if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, come to Him without delay and allow Him to work in your life. Now is the time of Salvation. Don't put it off.

"Procrastination Renders Our Calling Rusty As Savior's Truth Is Not Accepted Totally In Our Nature!"(P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.I.O.N)/"Without P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N..A.T.I.O.N, what are you called to do?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for calling James and John without delay and they followed you. Help us to follow you Oh Lord without making excuses. You chose the disciples for a purpose and you call each of us for a purpose to know you, be known by you, and help others know you. Help us Jesus. Oh Lord, forgive us when we let procrastination take hold of us. We ask for your intervention to help us. Please forgive us for procrastinating in our lives. We depend on you oh Lord to do your will. Thank you Jesus. You Oh Lord have taught me and reminded me not to procrastinate. It is not always easy Lord not to procrastinate. So, please Lord Jesus forgive me when I have procrastinated and help me so I do not procrastinate. There have been so many times I have faced regrets for procrastinating, especially when it involved others. Redeem our time Oh Lord and help us to follow you diligently. Help us to follow our calling faithfully so it does not become rusty because we have not accepted the truth of your calling totally everyday. Forgive us and help us to overcome our weakness of procrastination so we can follow your Word faithfully. Help us not to put of things we can do today for tomorrow when you have given us the time to do it. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Pray the prayer below or use your own words to invite Jesus Christ into your life and have a personal relationship with Him. Now is the time of Salvation. Don't wait. 

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I read that you alone can give me access to Heaven and be delivered from the bondage of sin and death. I want that Lord. I believe you died on the cross for my sin and rose again to give me new life. I believe your Blood shed on the cross saves me when I turn to you. So I turn to you now with all that I am and ask you to make something of my life for you. Please be my Lord and Personal Savior. Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Thank you for delivering me from my sin as I am sorry. I love you Jesus. I need you. Help me Jesus! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!

May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory@gmail.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

 

 

Mark 1:16-18: "How can you use your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N to tell others about Jesus?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 14,19, 09:11 a.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: "What role does R.E.P.E.N.T play in your life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 12,19, 11:18 a.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: "Whose T.I.M.I.N.G do you follow in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 11,19, 10:51 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 10,19, 08:52 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "What Determines Your G.R.O.W.T.H in the Lord?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 08,19, 10:38 a.m.)

Mark 1:9-11: "Who will you P.R.A.I.S.E publicly in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 07,19, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 1:9:"What will you take a S.T.A.N.D for in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 04,19, 09:47 a.m.)

Mark 1:4-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 03,19, 09:37 a.m.)

Mark 1:1-3: "Why bother seriously with P.R.O.P.H.E.C.Y everyday in your life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 02,19, 10:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:1:"Why bother with the L.I.F.E of Jesus Christ?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 02,19, 10:44 a.m.)

Isaiah 43:16,18-19, Mark 1:40-42: "What will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2019?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 01,19, 12:32 p.m.)

 

 

 
   
 

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