Scripture

“Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:20

Reflections

Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew to follow him.  What do they do?  “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”  As much as they loved to fish, following Jesus was more important than fishing.

It is easy to get caught up with the many things of this life; family, friends, housework, sports, music, 4H, stock shows, volunteering in various capacities, etc.  Not all of these things are bad.  But here’s the honest truth.  We cannot have it all.  We will have to say “no” to something to be able to follow Jesus.  If you’re not willing to say “no”, what’s going to get squeezed out of your life?  God.  You’ll miss out.  Why?  Because you’d be available to everything else before God.  You will have ended up missing out on the most exciting thing you could ever be a part of, God’s call on your life.

The fishermen dropped their nets.  They left family behind.  They gave up something good for something even better.  They became his disciples.  They learned the kinds of things that Jesus knew and did the kinds of things that he did. They lived the opportunity of a lifetime.

Anyone can call themselves a Christian.  Only those who respond to the call are followers of Jesus.  It’s not too late to being a part of what God is doing in this world.  What do you need to leave behind in order to take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime, following Jesus?

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for giving me the opportunity to follow You in your kingdom.  Help me to say “no” to the unimportant things in order that I might follow you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Matthew 4:12-23