Author: THERESA JACOBSON

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Third Sunday after the Epiphany – January 24, 2027
“^17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you 
become fishers of men.” ^18And immediately they left their nets 
and followed him.”
- Mark 1:17-18 -
What is your “safety net”?  Literally, a safety net is a physical net used to catch performers, who perform acts high in the air, in the unfortunate event they fall to the ground.  We often think of highwire walkers and acrobats.  In the figurative sense, a “safety net” is a plan put in place to create a sense of security.  It could also refer to anything that makes one feel “safe” or “comfortable.”  For me, living in a particular part of the world is a part of my safety net.  Hobbies, habits, and routines help us to feel safe and grounded.  
In our reading from Mark, we hear about Jesus calling the first disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  Jesus was a rabbi, a Jewish teacher.  It’s interesting to note that in the Jewish culture, often the students chose the teacher.  But Jesus turns the tables on us, as he so often does.  He found four fishermen: ordinary men who worked hard to put food on the table and provide for their families.  They didn’t have luxurious jobs nor did they live elite lives.  And yet, Jesus called them to follow him.
These men were doing what they knew best: fishing for fish to make money.  This was comfortable for them.  They understood it.  They knew what to expect day in and day out.  Yet, they immediately left their fishing nets and even their family in the case of James and John.  Maybe they sensed that what Jesus was calling them to do held some significance.  Jesus was calling them to be apart of the mission of the Church.  And he calls you to do the same.  It’s hard when God calls us to something that’s unfamiliar and unpredictable.  But more often than not, when we respond to his call, difficult as it might be, we find that God blesses us richly and in turn, he blesses others richly.
So, what is your “safety net”?  And is it getting in the way of responding to what God is calling you to do?  Perhaps, he is calling you to leave that safety net for now because he has greater things in store for you. 
Third Sunday after the Epiphany – January 24, 2027
“^17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you 
become fishers of men.” ^18And immediately they left their nets 
and followed him.”
- Mark 1:17-18 -
What is your “safety net”?  Literally, a safety net is a physical net used to catch performers, who perform acts high in the air, in the unfortunate event they fall to the ground.  We often think of highwire walkers and acrobats.  In the figurative sense, a “safety net” is a plan put in place to create a sense of security.  It could also refer to anything that makes one feel “safe” or “comfortable.”  For me, living in a particular part of the world is a part of my safety net.  Hobbies, habits, and routines help us to feel safe and grounded.  
In our reading from Mark, we hear about Jesus calling the first disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  Jesus was a rabbi, a Jewish teacher.  It’s interesting to note that in the Jewish culture, often the students chose the teacher.  But Jesus turns the tables on us, as he so often does.  He found four fishermen: ordinary men who worked hard to put food on the table and provide for their families.  They didn’t have luxurious jobs nor did they live elite lives.  And yet, Jesus called them to follow him.
These men were doing what they knew best: fishing for fish to make money.  This was comfortable for them.  They understood it.  They knew what to expect day in and day out.  Yet, they immediately left their fishing nets and even their family in the case of James and John.  Maybe they sensed that what Jesus was calling them to do held some significance.  Jesus was calling them to be apart of the mission of the Church.  And he calls you to do the same.  It’s hard when God calls us to something that’s unfamiliar and unpredictable.  But more often than not, when we respond to his call, difficult as it might be, we find that God blesses us richly and in turn, he blesses others richly.
So, what is your “safety net”?  And is it getting in the way of responding to what God is calling you to do?  Perhaps, he is calling you to leave that safety net for now because he has greater things in store for you.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2026 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Rev. Theresa Jacobson. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2026 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Rev. Theresa Jacobson. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.