By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

September 08, 2008

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SCRIPTURE:
“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 do the disciples do?
1. Without delay when Jesus called, James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.
2. Without delay when Jesus called, James and John followed him.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why is it significant that James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Jesus?
I found it very interesting that James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Jesus because at the time they were giving up their own father's business to pursue the business of Jesus when Jesus called them. They were in the business of fishing for fish and when Jesus calls, they follow the business of Jesus to fish for the souls of men. 

Also, they do not leave their father alone but with the hired men. This is significant because it shows that when they followed Jesus, they did not just leave their dad's business in limbo. Everything Scripture mentions has a reason even phrases such as 'hired men'.  

It is also significant because they trusted the hired men to help their dad while they went into the business of following Jesus.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life.  No matter what business I am doing whether it is family owned or not,  when Jesus calls, I need to follow the business of Jesus.  At the same time, I need to entrust the business I was doing to hired help.

I ask you now dear friends, how do you rate in the business of Jesus?
Dear friend, whatever business you are in whether it is family owned or not, if you follow the Lord's calling into ministry, you are actually joining the business of Jesus. You maybe asked to leave behind the business you were doing or utilize what you learned in the business you are doing for the Kingdom of God.

When Jesus called Peter and Andrew who were commercial fisherman, He told them that if they follow Him, He will make them fishers for the souls of men. This is exposited more at Mark 1:16-18: "What do you do with your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N in life?" (Sept 04, 08, 10:51 a.m.) Their profession was used for the Kingdom of God.

Now how you rate in the business of Jesus will depend on what you do in the business of Jesus. Jesus is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and He is calling you to join His team when you are called. It is important that you understand the organization culture of the business of Jesus. Four things are emphasized heavily in the business of Jesus: Word of God, Prayer, Church: The Body of Believers with Christ as the Head, and Missions.

The Word of God gives us the instruction manual on how to follow Jesus effectively and be successful in the business of Jesus from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation. We learn how we can be successful by following the Word of God.

As we follow the Word of God, we are reminded of man's sinful condition to the point that man needs to have an attitude of rendition. In the business of Jesus, having an attitude of rendition for our condition is utmost important.

No one is good, not one. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

We need to realize how much Jesus emphasizes our sinful condition in the Word and the solution is found in Him. Jesus is the CEO with the perfect solution when we join the business of Jesus.

We need to join the business of Jesus because without being in the business of Jesus, we will be in the business of Satan. There is no middle ground. Satan is about sin and its bondage while Jesus is about sanctification and its blessings.

The perfect solution to man's condition of being separated from God because of their sin is to take what the CEO offers to all followers who now join His business.

The solution did not start with humanity but it started with God who sent us Jesus, our Central Eternal Officer (CEO). To build His Kingdom and followers, Jesus took upon Himself to die for the sins of humanity shedding His precious cleansing blood.

Jesus did not entice followers to join the Kingdom of God with money to build His business but built the business with His own precious cleansing blood to reach the souls of men.

Friend, Jesus died on the cross for you and me because that is how much He loves you. It did not end there because His precious cleansing blood became the antidote for all humanity that has been in bondage to sin being its prisoner. The antidote or the key to freedom has been provided. But now friend, you and I have to take the antidote or the key in our lives. We need to let the antidote wash us and wipe away the deadly virus in us. We need to let the key unlock the chains we are bound in for the precious blood of Jesus Christ can dissolve all the sin in us, freeing us.

It starts with turning our lives over to Jesus and following His business. His business is the best business we can be in for Eternity. Yes, friend you and I can join His business.

Jesus called the disciples to join His business so they can fish for the souls of men. Jesus calls us to join His business too by a complete rendition of our lives to Him for starters. That  starts with prayer to the Lord confessing and repenting of our sin.

We come to learn the emphasis put on prayer in the Word of God and need to adapt praying into our daily cycle. But it is not any kind of praying but praying the Word of God for the Lord's will to be done. Prayer is in essence talking to Jesus. Regardless of how earthly businesses are run, in the business of Jesus we can get to directly communicate with our perfect CEO. This is important and encouraged.  Jesus was all about transformational leadership. Jesus wants to transform His followers. It does not end there.

One of the ways Jesus wants to transform His followers is mostly through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives and as He uses His Church, the body of believers to accomplish the vision in the business. In essence, emphasizing being part of a community of believers becomes utmost importance. Now as we are in a community of believers, studying the Word of God putting it into practice through the power of prayer, we can actually be equipped, enabled, and empowered in the business of Jesus to engage in the Mission he has called all of us.

Yes, friend it is so exciting for me! I pray that it will be exciting for you to join in the business of Jesus. Friend, if you are reading this and do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior who can free you from the bondage of sin and death, come as you are and give your life over to Jesus. Allow Him to dissolve all the sin in you with His precious cleansing blood so you can be seen as righteous in the eyes of God being saved for Eternity. It can happen friend but you have to open your heart to Jesus. Jesus took the initiative first to choose you by going to the cross to die for the sins of humanity. When Jesus died on the cross, He was absorbing all of sins flood, cleansing it by His precious blood. That gave an opening for all humanity to choose Jesus.

God desires that none should perish but that all come into repentance.

That means you and me too friend. No matter what kind of earthly business we are in or have been in, Jesus will take us in into His company when we turn to Him. Jesus is a transformational leader and we can be excited to serve Him and be under His leadership. I know I am and I ask you to join me if you don't yet know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior.

If you want to turn your life over to Jesus Christ, you can do it right now. Pray the second prayer below to rendition your condition over to Jesus.

If you already know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior, bring others to join you in the business of Jesus. It starts first with reaching out to them with the love of Christ. When Jesus asked Andrew, Peter, James, and John to follow Him, it was to fish for the souls of men.

When Jesus asks you to follow Him, He will use the knowledge and skills you already have to build the Kingdom of God as He transforms you with the power of the Holy Spirit. He is working in my life and will work in yours too. I am so EXCITED! 

Being in the business of Jesus also will influence who we vote for in this election year. For me being in the business of Jesus means taking the Word of God seriously and taking action by voting for candidates who are Pro-Life supporting the sanctity of life for the unborn who cannot defend themselves, who are Pro-family supporting the sanctity of marriage between man and woman, caring for the poor and downtrodden, etc. 

For me being in the business of Jesus means I intend to vote for John McCain- Sarah Palin because they stand up strongly for those issues.  One example among many is how McCain's wife went to visit the downtrodden and poor in Bangladesh and brought back a child and told McCain, she is now your daughter. McCain and his wife took her in as their daughter. I ask you to join me in voting for McCain-Palin this year.

Let others rate you in the business of Jesus to see where you need to improve. Most of all ask the Lord Jesus Himself to rate you how you are doing in the business of Jesus. Now is the time my friend, don't delay!

"Business Under Savior's Instruction Now Empowers Servitude Scripturally" (B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S.)/"How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for what I have learned today. I learned that James and John left their father Zebedee with the hired help and followed you when you called them. Oh Lord Jesus, I pray right now no matter what I am doing, when you call me specifically to a mission or task in your business Oh Lord, that I would follow diligently. I pray for my focus to be people-oriented instead of task-oriented. You are all about reaching out. Help us Oh Lord to use your instruction manual always no matter what job you have called us to do because you place us in strategic locations for your Kingdom Oh Lord giving us your Word as our source of power when we claim it as the Holy Spirit working in us. Help us to talk to you frequently knowing you are there for us and desire to help us. Help us to be part of a community of believers that believe in the Word of God and preach your Word from Genesis to Revelation. Oh Father God, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ and all He has done  and will continue to do. Help us to follow the Great Commission you have given all of us to go into all the world making disciples, preaching the Gospel, baptizing in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, knowing you are with us always. Help us to be open to your calling and not circumvent it with our own desires. Thank you so much Jesus. We want you to rate us high in the business you have called us to! Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!