05/06/2023
Placing our relationship with Jesus above all others in our life; is this something that we are willing, or able, to do? Could you walk away from home and family if Jesus asked you to follow Him, and said “I will make you fishers of men."? You might do so if you had nothing there to live for, but what if you had a wonderful family, a life filled with happiness and wealth? What if you were living in complete contentment… would you still leave it all behind and go?
“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.”
Matthew 4:18-20 ESV
Peter and Andrew left far more than just their nets... they left their homes and families to follow Jesus. Have you seriously thought about how you would react if Jesus walked up to you and said "follow me?" Would you, or could you, just walk away from your home and family to follow Him?
“"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26-27 ESV
In this scripture the word used is hate, but in other verses it is translated as "love less". So don't get immediately turned off by this particular verse. What is being asked is if we are challenged by our family regarding our faith... who will win out? Will we hear the call of home and turn back, or will we wave and keep walking with the Lord? Are we willing to suffer with Him in order to spread the gospel, or will the warmth and comfort of our own bed and fire keep us at home?
It amazes me how Peter and Andrew just walked away... either the calling was incredibly strong, or they had experienced one very bad day of fishing! I believe it was the calling and the glory of God that radiated from Jesus. There is no reference to any soul searching, or fretting over what to do... the verse says that they immediately left their nets.
Take a few minutes this morning and imagine that you are just coming home from work. You are preparing to walk into your house when an unknown man calls to you and says... "Follow me, and I will make you a _________ of men." (Fill in the blank depending on what you do for a living). This man isn't glowing with an aura you have never seen before, but there is just something about Him. What would you do? Would you talk with Him further? Would you just keep on walking? Would you stop and consider His request? What would you do?
Now, come back to the present, where you are in your life, and faith. If you were at church sitting on the pew with your family and a man you knew was Jesus walked down the aisle, turned to you and said "follow me", would you look at your wife and say "Sorry honey, I gotta go!" or, would you look down and let the moment pass. Would you wives leave the kids with your husband and excuse yourself down the pew on your way to wherever He was asking you to go, or would you look away?
Standing up and following Jesus is what it takes to be a disciple. Most of the time it doesn't involve picking up and leaving home, but it always involves leaving something. It might be a matter of finding new friends, or maintaining your faith in the face of a family who ridicules you. There is always something that you have to leave, or choose Jesus over. Are you making the right choices in your life of faith? Do you value something more than your very soul?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV
Peter and Andrew made the right choice, but that didn't make them perfect... it just started them along the road. When we choose to follow Jesus it doesn't make us perfect either, but we must be willing to leave the things behind that stand in our way, and begin walking the road to perfection in Christ. Think hard on this today... have you left something to follow Him? Will you leave something to follow Him?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the calling of your Son Jesus Christ. I pray that I will not hesitate when He asks me to leave things behind as we walk together. I pray, Holy Father, that all temptation falls on the rock of my life where it can't take root, and that your Word finds fertile soil in my heart. Lead me Jesus and steer me away from those things that I need to abandon in order to be your disciple. Let neither the lack of support a family member might exhibit, nor the loss of friends I must replace, become impediments to me as I answer your call. In all things let me see you, and in the face of sin help me find strength to overcome temptation. Let me walk in your shadow and protection... now... always... and without a single thought of turning back.
Rich Forbes