Matthew 4:18 – 22 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. And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 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. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What are you willing to leave behind to follow Jesus? What would it take to convince you to do it? This passage shows Andrew, Peter, James, and John immediately leaving everything behind to follow Jesus just because He called them.
To give a little context, this was not the first time they had met Jesus. John’s gospel tells how Andrew and Peter had met Jesus the day after His baptism. It is quite possible they had told James and John about that encounter. Jesus was not a complete stranger to these four men when He came walking along the beach.
However, when Jesus came walking along the beach teaching the crowd, these men were going about their daily life. What caused them to leave their family and their livelihood to follow a man they barely knew? It was because they believed Jesus was the Messiah.
Who do you believe Jesus is? Of course we know the right answers. He is the Son of God. He is the Eternal King, the Savior. Do we really believe that though? Do you believe it enough to drop everything and go where He leads without hesitation or even knowing the final destination?
This is a question you should really give some thought to. Prayerfully examine yourself and find what the answer is. Not what you know the answer should be, but what the answer really is. That answer will tell you what you really believe about Jesus.
Many Christians … way too many Christians … believe that Jesus is their savior but they reserve lordship of their lives for themselves. They believe Jesus exists and they prayed some version of “the sinner’s prayer” but all they really wanted was forgiveness for sins and fire insurance. They are willing to make some accommodations for God in their life, but it is THEIR life. They usually want God to bless their agenda rather than submit to His will.
Jesus was unambiguous when He taught about what it means to follow Him. He said that following Him meant dying to yourself (Matthew 10:38). He taught that it was by losing our life that we would gain eternal life (Matthew 10:39). Jesus told us that He must be first in our life. No one or nothing can have preeminence over Him (Luke 14:26) because if that we the case that person or thing would be an idol to you. Even the timing is not our own. We cannot choose to wait for a more convenient time (Matthew 8:22). When Jesus calls we must respond or risk being left behind.
This standard is not easy. Not for us or for Jesus’ original audience. That is why He clearly stated we should weigh the cost us discipleship before we make a decision (Luke 14:28-33). Because making a commitment and then backing out is a serious matter (Luke 9:62).
If we truly believe that Jesus is God. That He is both our Lord and Savior. We must be prepared to follow the example of Andrew, Peter, James, and John. We must be ready to give up everything to follow Him.
Lord God! Grant me the strength and courage to follow You whenever and wherever You call. Lord, let me throw away anything in my life that would challenge Your supremacy for my heart