The Calling of the First Disciples

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

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he Christian life is essentially missionary, as the above quote makes clear. Jesus came that we may have life, and have it to the full. The attainment of this fullness of life necessarily grows out of our relationships with other people, for we were created in the image of God and God is not solitude enclosed upon itself, but a trinity of persons. "It is not good for man to be alone" for that very reason. A person is someone who, by nature, is meant to exist in relationship to other persons. Our defects of character manifest themselves in our relationships with others; therefore, healing has to come about in a social context, without the false support of drugs, alcohol, or some other debilitating substitute. The disturbed personality is the one that is incapable of getting along. Restoration to wholeness is seen in our social relationships.