Day One - Committing to Follow Him

MATTHEW 4:18-21

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Observation #1:

They weren’t prepared…or were they.

They didn’t have a Bible Degree or attend a Seminary. They weren’t responding to an altar call in a church service. They weren’t even sitting in their “prayer closet” on a 40-day fast or waiting on God - they were living their lives. They were normal guys doing their normal jobs – fishing.

That’s when Jesus called them.

Many of us spend way too much time trying to get God’s attention by doing Godly things, but we’re not being obedient and doing those things that God has called us to do. Maybe if we volunteer for one more church activity or attend church every time the door is open, then, God will notice and “pick” me. We think there’s one more study or one more day of fasting and prayer…but God’s not looking for that.

He’s looking for us to be doing what He’s called us to do. For each of us, it’s different. Some of us are called to be in Bible School or Seminary. Some are called to provide for their families is a secular workplace. Others are called to take care of their families. But we think there’s something else we need to be doing.

We make the “Calling” to be something much more complicating than it is. God calls each of us. The question is, “ARE WE LISTENING” or are we being too busy trying to get God’s attention?

Observation #2:

The 4 disciples IMMEDIATELY dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus. They didn’t stop and “pray about it”. They didn’t take time to consult with each other or their friends or a pastor. They dropped their nets. They followed Him. Two of them even left their father in the boat with the nets.

It was simple. Jesus called them to follow, they followed.

We make it way too complicated. We stop. We think about it. We pray about it. We fast and pray. We consult mentors and accountability partners. I’m not saying these things aren’t important, there is a time and place for all of them, but do we complicate the simple calling of Jesus in our lives and try to over-spiritualize what God is calling us to do – SIMPLY follow Him!

As this is the first day of a new year, a new decade, I want to simplify my following of Jesus. I want to learn to hear His voice and IMMEDIATELY follow Him. I want to hear His command and IMMEDIATELY be obedient.

If I’m already doing those things that I should be: praying, fasting, reading His Word…then, I don’t need to stop and do those things when I hear His voice. I am already prepared.

I commit today to DAY 1’s Dare: to follow Him. Today, I commit to follow Him in this New Year, to where He leads me, to whom He leads me.