Come, Follow Me
"Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" (Matt 4:19 NLT).
Jan Paron | December 27, 2014
As Jesus walked by the sea, He saw Peter and Andrew, both fishermen casting their net out to sea. He called them with a very simple command, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" (4:19). Peter and Andrew heeded His beckoning.
The King James Version says, "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (v. 20). Straightway (Greek: εὐθέως; eutheōs) means at once or immediately (Bible Hub, 2014). An at once action did not leave room for their hesitation to acknowledge His call.
Jesus asks His set apart people to do the same, "Come, follow me" (v. 19). His call requires a quick and permanent response on the part of every believer. As another year approaches, I made a mental checklist to evaluate how well I follow this same request in my life during the past:
- Do I straightway come, follow Him or put it off?
- Does my faith show trusting Him with the unseen future?
- Do I follow Him consistently or conveniently?
- To what degree does my attitude reveal a servant's heart?
In Rom 13:14 (ESV), the Apostle Paul reminded the saints to "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Admittedly, my flesh gets in the way of following Jesus' command to come, follow Him. I fall short of walking as His set apart. In 2015, I vow to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" and give no room to the flesh. I submit without abandon to come, follow, and serve Him.
William McDowell - Withholding Nothing Video
Dr. Paron,
ReplyDeleteI ask myself why Christians must analyze everything instead of giving it directly to God. As scripture states all we need is faith as a grain of a mustard seed (Matt 17:20/Luke 17:6)….how come we are unable relinquish all to Him???? Is it because we as a people like to be in control? Do we feel if we place our input on a situation we are speaking for God?
Faith is not about control, but is about releasing of all attachments without hesitation.
As I look at Peter and Andrew actions I cannot help but to wonder how they can IMMEDIATELY give up EVERYTHING in order to follow the unknown. Since Peter and Andrew were fishermen, I am thinking their mentality of a fisherman helped in making it so easy to do so.
a. A fisherman is always prepared with the tools needed for fishing. A Christian needs to be prepared by starting every morning with devotion, prayer.
b. A fisherman rises early in the morning. A Christian knows not what time they will be called by God for an assignment. When God say go, you must go without hesitation early in the day or late at night.
c. A fisherman must be quiet so the fish are not scared away. A Christian need to be quiet in order to hear what God has to say. A good ministry leader must be a good listener.
d. A fisherman anticipates and is aware when there is a nibble on the hook PATIENCE! A Christian must be still and wait on GOD (Psalm 46:10/ Isaiah 40:31)
e. As the nibble becomes a bite the fisherman knows how to reel it in because of the knowledge learned from experience and tools of the trade. As a Christian, we need to use the tools (Bible) along with the Holy Spirit to know when it is time to move. Not jumping ahead of the game!
As 2014 comes to a close and 2015 is upon the horizon. I will be making every effort to add the traits of a fisherman to my lifestyle. NO HESITATION…… RELINQUISHING ALL TO GOD.
Blessings - Anita