eFollowingJesusJan13 - Immediately (read Matthew 4:19-25)
Peter and Andrew left their nets - their livelihood, schedule, security - immediately. James and John left not only their livelihood but their beloved father Zebedee - immediately.
But you and I? Our feet are sunk in concrete. We wait, postpone, plot to do something for God some day when it's convenient, when the kids are older, when work is less stressful, when the daytimer clears... Do you ever wonder if Jesus tried a few other fishermen along the shore before he got to these four? Were there others who clung to their nets, stuck with dad, couldn't fathom leaving all they had labored to build up for themselves?
Following Jesus is everything. To pursue him, the disciples had to put down their nets, which were too bulky to drag along. What do you need to put down? To follow Jesus, you have to drop something you're clutching, mark something off your calendar, turn off TV, leave the office earlier, scratch a hobby, cancel some amusements - for the sake of joyful obedience.
Lord, my hands are so full. What do You want me to put down so I can follow You? and not tomorrow or someday, but today, now?
James
james@mpumc.org
To learn more about how to follow Christ immediately at Myers Park Methodist, visit the Get Involved Expo!
Here is the full text of Matthew 4:19-25 - 19: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20: Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21: 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. 22: Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23: And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. 24: So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25: And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.
