18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus called. They followed. Pretty simple. Only today we try to complicate that. Jesus still calls. Only now days people are reluctant to follow, especially if it means following into uncertainty or sacrifice. We make our excuses. We protest. We justify our refusal to follow.
I don't see how any child of God can ever be right with Him and refuse to follow. It happens all the time in little matters as well as larger ones. Why? Why are so many so reluctant, or worse, downright defiant about following Jesus wherever He leads.
Those first disciples heard a clear simple message from Jesus. "Follow Me." I sit amazed that those simple words compelled those men to leave their profession, their families and start on a journey that would lead them into adventure and some into martyrdom. What was so compelling about those simple words, "Follow Me?" You can speak those words in less than two seconds. Each week people get up to expound the scriptures, including me, taking thirty minutes or longer and those messages do not have the same impact as Jesus two simple words. Follow Me.
What in Jesus' voice motivated these men to uproot and risk their very lives to follow Jesus. What authority did Jesus have in His call? It is the same authority Jesus still speaks with today. All over the world Jesus still calls people to follow Him. The Holy Spirit takes those words and drives them deep into the souls of people. So deep that through the ages people have followed Jesus in many ways and places. They have adjusted priorities, uprooted and moved where they lived, changed professions, sacrificed financially and some even been willing to suffer physically and die. All because of two little words. "Follow Me."
For Martin Luther it meant speaking out against the unbiblical practices of the Catholic Church and the pope. For David Brainerd it meant living in teepees alongside unbelieving Indians to share the gospel. He braved brutal winters to win Indians to faith in Jesus all while battling tuberculosis. He traveled by horseback forging creeks and streams. He lived alone. He battled depression. He also followed Jesus until his illness finally incapacitated him taking his life at age 29.
I love to read those stories of people who followed Jesus. I have shelves lined with books about such people. That is all well and good. Here is the challenge.
Jesus calls us to follow Him too. It might not be to start a reformation or live in a tent to work among Native Americans. His call on us is equally important. So you and I have a choice. We have a choice to ignore Him. We have a choice to heed His call and to get in step with Him. I choose today to follow. I resolve I will follow Him. I pray I will follow Him, not just today, but everyday for the remainder of my life. What about you? Will you devote yourself to following the One who loves you, died for you, paid your ransom while sin held you hostage, and redeemed you. Just remembering those things should motivate any believer to follow Jesus wherever He leads.
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