JESUS SEES AND CALL US TO FOLLOW HIM
SCRIPTURE:
“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. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once, they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father, Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18—22)
OBSERVATION:
I am not sure if Jesus saw the two brothers and started walking toward where they were or if he was walking and happened to have seen the two brothers casting their nets. Or was Jesus looking for disciples on the beach? It is not told, and I can only assume. But this is what is clear: Jesus SAW AND CALLED the two sets of brothers to; “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.”
What was also clear was that both sets of brothers dropped everything, left everything, and followed him. The question in my mind is, What did Jesus see in these two sets of brothers? Could it be that Jesus saw hard-working fishermen? They weren’t idle men. They were disciplined in their trade. Could it be that Jesus saw faithfulness and commitment to work hard and provide for their families and communities?
But what really impressed me was that there were NO DETAILS of what Christ called these men to do. It was just simply come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people. There is NO PROMISE of anything else that would cause them to follow. Jesus called us intentionally and did not randomly call us out of the crowd. He sees us, knows us, and pursues us for his purpose.
These men left for a PURPOSE not clear to them what that was. But it was powerful enough for them to leave their PROFESSION, their BOAT, and their FAMILIES. This is a calling that only a few believers today would leave their profession, their boat, meaning their life, and their family to pursue something that needed to be spelled out clearly.
Jesus would often call people, and there was no source of security attached. The response of the two sets of brothers was immediate. They left their profession, boat, and father to follow Jesus. The call to obedience and trust is always what marks a believer and a follower of Christ. Do we love our work, our boat, our father, and our families more than the CALLING of God in our lives?
I am amazed at how they immediately left everything that was dear to them to pursue a calling that has no financial security, retirement plans, bonuses, promises of housing, or vacation, just nothing. To follow Jesus is paramount to having everything I need in life in him. He is my security, my financial source; he is able to do far more above and beyond what I could ever plan, wish for, hope for, and desire. God is more and bigger than anything I place my trust in.
APPLICATION:
I must be honest: when Christ called me back in the 1980s to follow him, I wish I could say it was an immediate response to him. It was a struggle. I was worried and scared. But one step at a time, trusting Jesus to provide and guide me helped me overcome my fears and challenges. Today, and every day, is a choice to follow Jesus no matter how fearful and unsure I am. I continuously do my best to practice a life of obedience and trust. Like the disciples, they have to obey the call and trust that where Jesus calls and guides, he will also provide all our needs. I will continue to trust him today, even when things don’t make sense.
PRAYER:
Jesus, I ask that you continue to help me to place my trust in you. Please teach me how to be obedient and how to be willing to leave everything in my life in your hands. Please teach me to be a follower who loves to do your will. I commit myself a fresh to your purpose and calling in my life daily. I want to live in such a way that honors and glorifies you, Jesus. Amen!
