Follow Me

"Jesus called them and immediately they left the boat. . . and followed Him."  Matthew 4:21-22


He calls.
They listen. 


And two weather worn, sea soaked, harbor hardened men drop their knotted nets and follow. . .
Dropped their nets.  Let go of their lives.  Stopped the striving.  Just to follow.
To follow the greatest soul catcher of all time.


Luke tells us the same story, with a bit more detail.  Jesus had just finished teaching the crowd from Peter's water worn vessel.  The tired men listened and mended, after being up all night fishing with no catch to call their own.


"Put out into deep water, and let the nets out for a catch,"  Jesus says simply.
Sore backs and weary arms protest, "We've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything," Peter replies and sighs deep, looking to the teacher for a way out.  The Master, silent. . .just waits.


"But because you say so, I will let down the nets," reluctant words spill from Peter's mouth.


Moments later, gasping fish overflow their small craft and their partners' boat as well.


(There is reward in obedience, even if it is reluctant.)


Miracle on the sea from the Maker of the sea.  The same God who thought to create currented, rushing, filling water, thought to surprise some fishermen one warm day and their lives were never the same.

Back on shore, boats overflowing, dollar signs piling up, business is good. . . but there's something (or someone) better.


"From now on you will catch men," Jesus says with a sparkle in His eye as He turns to leave, "Follow me."


What else can they do.  They have witnessed the miracle.  They have tasted the mystery.  They have been in the presence of the Promised One.  Who would want torn nets and slimy boats and smelly fish, when you can have mended hearts, impassioned lives, and joy to the full!?!


So they follow. . .and learn. . .and live.


The call is the same to the road weary ones.  Those of us who work and strive and do it all over again and again each day.  Whether we strive behind a desk, or in the field, or in the home, our journey is a hard one.
But this striving is not our call. 


Our call is to follow.
Simply follow.


He leads.  He has done the hard part.
We are redeemed to walk in his steps.  To go where He says go.  To stay where He says stay.  To listen and follow the voice of the Master, our Shepherd, our Savior.


Let us follow Him today.
Let us be disciples of Christ.

Scripture taken from the New International Version of the Bible.
Matthew  4:21-22
Luke 5:4-11


(repost)