Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT)
Imagine being at work one day… Doing what you do, going through the motions, content maybe, somewhat happy with your lot… When a man with a certain presence about him, walks up to you, acts like he knows you, and then says “hey, come follow me… I will teach you…”
CRAZY!!! I would probably call the cops, call security… Get him out of there… crazy! But this is exactly what happened that day to Peter, Andrew, James and John. They may have heard about Jesus before that day… He had started preaching and travelling… But He approached them and asked them personally to follow Him. It’s the question Jesus asks everyone every day. Through His word, through different situations, through others – the silently loud voice of Jesus echoes through the world and all its time frames, races, ethnic groups, cultures and societies “Come follow me…”
We are all following something. In a marketing sense – which is a corporatised version of discipleship and conversion – every day we receive up to 4000 pieces of information through signs, TV ads and shows, radio, shopping centres, etc. looking to convert you and change your activity and belief system according to them and their product/ways. They want you to follow them, believe in them and buy into them. What you follow and allow to influence you leads you to make decisions that, strung together, plot the course of your life.
Jesus wants us to follow him and be a disciple. Not someone who mimics, but someone who takes on the beliefs and ways of Jesus in such a way that it completely changes the course of their life. His Story becomes entwined with our story when we follow Him. And it’s a remarkable story of redemption, hope, courage, peace, love and eternity. The things that our soul craves can only be found by following Jesus. Everything else is a poor substitute that never satisfies.
So today – who are you following? Day by day, moment by moment, in every situation and decision, listen for the voice of Jesus saying “Come follow me…” And drop everything else and go after it.
