“Come, follow me, Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. – Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
“Follow me” was the call from Jesus.
This simple command from Jesus is not as simple as it sounds. We watch Jesus as He calls disciples to join Him. God always has a ‘plan.’ He found some fishermen, offered them a straightforward command, and even without knowing all the details, the fishermen left their work to follow Jesus.
The calling of the disciples gives us the opportunity to explore our own sense of God’s calling, individually. How could we do the same? As we learn about the all-encompassing call to follow Jesus, two key phrases stand out. These are “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Good News.” Hence, our lives can never be the same. The life of following God’s calling will engage us as believers in the Good News of His kingdom, even as we share it and Him. But we must believe!
According to 2nd Peter 1:3 (NIV), God’s “…divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” Believers, we know that faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and assurance of our salvation comes by faith. So, like the fishermen, let’s drop our nets and walk in obedience, thus fulfilling purpose.
On the other hand, working effectively in the kingdom of God is a plus. Like Samuel, who heard God’s calling and made himself available (1st Samuel 3:19), let us do the same. The songwriter said, “Jesus is tenderly calling…”. Today, let’s answer the call to grow and go.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for calling us. I praise You and thank You that You are at work in us, both to will and to do Your good pleasure. Thank You for spiritual freedom in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-11; Philippians 2:3
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 148:1-6; Revelation 18:18-24; Revelation 19:1-10; Nehemiah 7:4-73; Nehemiah 8