Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Matthew 4:19

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother, Andrew may not have known exactly what they would be doing, “fishing for people”, but they must have felt their choice was made when Jesus called them. Matthew 4:19 is a scriptural allusion to “How Clear is Our Vocation Lord”. Listen to stanza one: “How clear is our vocation Lord, when once we heed your call, to live according to Your word, and daily learn refreshed, restored, that you are Lord of all and will not let us fall.”

Matthew 4:19 also serves as an allusion to the fourth stanza of the hymn. Listen:

In what you give us, Lord to do, together or alone, in old routines or ventures new, may we not cease to look to you: the cross you hung upon, all you endeavored, done.

The Glory to God commentator has noted: “This reflection on Christian vocation was written to provide a new text for a pre-existing tune, and the poet has crafted his word so well that the two parts mesh smoothly. The tune is named for a noted British boarding school, whose music director was a friend of the composer.”

Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1981

Music: C. Huber H. Parry, 1888

Prayer

Lord of work and rest, we thank You for setting a good example for us – to work and rest. We thank You for the joy we derive in working alone and for the satisfaction found in working together. Help us to learn that we can discover ways to do things better and that trusted and true methods have their place in our work too. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen