“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. . . . ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20)
For the next week, we’re going to be talking about what it really means to follow Jesus. We start with this key moment where Jesus called two of the men He would end up using to change the world forever through their leadership in spreading the news about Him.
Notice two things: One, Peter and Andrew were in the middle of something else when Jesus called them. They weren’t out looking for some spiritual experience; it was just another day at work in the family business. He dialed their number.
Two, they had to stop what they were doing to follow Him. It’s not that being a fisherman is bad; it’s just that they wouldn’t have time for that and following Jesus, too. Nobody can do everything else life offers or demands and follow the Savior. Walking after Him means leaving some good things behind.
Think: What is the difference between just “being a Christian” and really following Jesus with your whole life? Which best describes you?
Pray: Ask God to help you to understand what it means to really follow Jesus with your whole life.
Do: Make a quick list of things you’ve had to give up to do something else. For example, maybe you had to drop one class or sport or activity in order to do another.