- Key Verse
- Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. (Matthew 4:19-22, NLT)
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Central Truth
When Jesus calls, He expects our response to be immediate. This is true obedience.
Reflections
I’ve imagined myself in that fishing boat with Andrew and Simon when Jesus came walking along the seaside and called out to them to follow Him. Fishing was a lucrative family business and they were right in the middle of a workday! There were so many reasons these brothers could have given not to go with Jesus--so many reasons I may have given—all valid, all reasonable. But instead, “they immediately dropped their nets and followed Him.”
Jesus didn’t dangle promises of material wealth to entice them to leave everything. Why DID they follow? Wasn’t the responsible thing to finish out their day’s work—sell the fish, sell the business, and put things in order at home?
Would I have suggested a trial run with Jesus—maybe just follow Him on the weekends? The fishermen could have offered, instead, to fund Jesus' ministry, using their God-given skills in fishing and business to advance the kingdom of God and Jesus could call others that had been educated in the synagogues to walk with Him in the day-to-day ministry.
But Jesus said, “Follow me.” And they did—immediately and completely. Obedience.
He still says, “Follow Me!” And still I struggle. Obedience.
Obedience often means leaving behind the world, as we know it and allowing His heart to be our heart—loving what He loves, healing the broken, restoring the lost, and capturing every opportunity to say, “Follow Me.”
Discussion Questions
1. Do you feel you are sitting on that “spiritually ambiguous” fence?
2. What makes it hard to leave the world behind?
3. What can you do to take a step toward complete obedience?
Shannon Kelley
January 6, 2010 09:42 AM
Pam - Thank you for this reflection! This is so very well expressed and provides such rich points for our further reflection. Your question regarding whether any of us are sitting on that "spiritually ambiguous" fence really pinpoints the central struggle for each of us to confront. Who among us wants to admit that we could be 'ambiguous'?? And the challenge of leaving the 'worldly' behind can be rewarding beyond description - but it is that first step that is so very difficult... Thank you again - I have printed your contribution to 'The Journey' and I will read it often. Blessings - Shannon