05/07/2025
Placing our relationship with Jesus above all others in our life. Is this something that we are willing, or able, to do? Could we walk away from home and family if Jesus asked us to "follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"? Peter and Andrew left far more than just their nets... they left their homes and families to follow Jesus. Have we seriously thought about how we would react if Jesus walked up to us and said, "follow me?" So I ask again… Would we, or could we, just walk away from our home and family to follow Him? Could we love Him more than our wives, and our children… could we love our families less than Him?
“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
“"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 versus the same word is translated as "love less". So don't get immediately turned off by this particular verse and translation. What is being asked is that if we are challenged by our family regarding how we are following our faith... which one will win out? Will we hear the call of home and turn back, or will we wave goodbye 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 beds and fires keep us at home?
It amazes me how Peter and Andrew immediately 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... our opening verse tells us 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 a 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? Or would you immediately go with Him? 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. If you were a mother and wife would you 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 turn away from Him?
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 behind when you choose to follow Jesus. Are you making the right choices in your life of faith today? Week, 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 immediately 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. Let’s think hard on this today... and ask ourselves what it was, that we left behind 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, be impediments to me as I answer your call. In all things let me see you, and in the face of doubt and sin help me to find the strength to overcome temptation. Let me walk in your shadow and protection always... now and forever. Help me as I follow you without a second thought and without turning back. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who never asks me to do anything I am not able to handle. Holy are you who makes all things possible. Praised be your name for giving me the strength and showing me the way to follow Jesus. Thank you for allowing me to love you more than my life, and all the things in it… even those things I love so incredibly much, like my wife and children who I give up my freedom and self for daily, and would even die for. Merciful and full of grace are you who I follow each day, and for your Son Jesus who walks before me. Hear this my prayer Lord and know that I will always follow you as I love you… with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””
Matthew 19:26 ESV
Rich Forbes