Matthew 4:18-22
“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. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. 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, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-22
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, . . .” Can you picture it? Warmer weather, strolling along the shore, the smell of fresh air, the sights, the sounds. Jesus walked a lot. During the time of his ministry, walking was the chief mode of transportation. It’s been estimated that Jesus walked at least 3,125 miles during his three-year public ministry and according to In Touch Ministries, his total lifetime travel, including traveling to Galilee and Jerusalem, is over 15,000 miles. I’m ready for a warm spring walk, how about you?
The text says that Jesus “saw” two brothers. Fishermen. Note: they weren’t rocket scientists, physicists, or theoretical mathematicians. They were fishermen. And here they are laboring and working in their everyday job. Jesus didn’t necessarily call the greatest, the smartest, the best-looking, the strongest, or the most popular. Jesus called the ordinary and the hard-working.
Can you imagine hearing those words, “come, follow me”? And, does it surprise you that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were willing to follow Jesus. Did you notice that Jesus didn’t even tell them where He was going? Peter and Andrew left their nets and their business behind and followed Jesus. James and John left their father and their business in order to follow Jesus. Jesus calls us explicitly to follow Him. They were in their own comfort zone, doing what they had grown up doing and were familiar with. Now they would be leaving that to venture into the unknown. While they didn’t know what they would face, they did know who they would face it with.
To follow Jesus doesn’t just mean to walk behind Him, but to go the way He is going, do the things that He does, and act the way He acts. Jesus initiates the call, and calls us to follow Him. He has chosen us to be used to be His disciples. Jesus wants all of us. He wants all of our devotion, all of our resources, all of our commitment, all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, and all of our strength. Jesus is calling us fully. Are we willing to leave something behind in order to follow Jesus? Leave our aspirations behind. Leave our hurt behind. Leave our money behind. Leave our time behind. Leave our friends who are distracting us behind. Leave our stuff behind.
The text today began with “walking”, when we go on a walk with someone, we first invite them. There is an invitation and a response. Jesus gave an invitation to the disciples. He said, “follow Me.” He is giving the same invitation to us today. He is inviting us to let Him into our lives and go on a life changing walk with him.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, . . .” Can you picture it? Warmer weather, strolling along the shore, the smell of fresh air, the sights, the sounds. Jesus walked a lot. During the time of his ministry, walking was the chief mode of transportation. It’s been estimated that Jesus walked at least 3,125 miles during his three-year public ministry and according to In Touch Ministries, his total lifetime travel, including traveling to Galilee and Jerusalem, is over 15,000 miles. I’m ready for a warm spring walk, how about you?
The text says that Jesus “saw” two brothers. Fishermen. Note: they weren’t rocket scientists, physicists, or theoretical mathematicians. They were fishermen. And here they are laboring and working in their everyday job. Jesus didn’t necessarily call the greatest, the smartest, the best-looking, the strongest, or the most popular. Jesus called the ordinary and the hard-working.
Can you imagine hearing those words, “come, follow me”? And, does it surprise you that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were willing to follow Jesus. Did you notice that Jesus didn’t even tell them where He was going? Peter and Andrew left their nets and their business behind and followed Jesus. James and John left their father and their business in order to follow Jesus. Jesus calls us explicitly to follow Him. They were in their own comfort zone, doing what they had grown up doing and were familiar with. Now they would be leaving that to venture into the unknown. While they didn’t know what they would face, they did know who they would face it with.
To follow Jesus doesn’t just mean to walk behind Him, but to go the way He is going, do the things that He does, and act the way He acts. Jesus initiates the call, and calls us to follow Him. He has chosen us to be used to be His disciples. Jesus wants all of us. He wants all of our devotion, all of our resources, all of our commitment, all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, and all of our strength. Jesus is calling us fully. Are we willing to leave something behind in order to follow Jesus? Leave our aspirations behind. Leave our hurt behind. Leave our money behind. Leave our time behind. Leave our friends who are distracting us behind. Leave our stuff behind.
The text today began with “walking”, when we go on a walk with someone, we first invite them. There is an invitation and a response. Jesus gave an invitation to the disciples. He said, “follow Me.” He is giving the same invitation to us today. He is inviting us to let Him into our lives and go on a life changing walk with him.
Posted in Devotional