Intellect and logic would have told Jesus’s first disciples not to follow Him. They hardly knew the guy. They had stable jobs as fishermen and tax collectors. By the world’s logic, they shouldn’t have left steady paychecks to follow a practical stranger! But Jesus told Peter, James, and John, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10 NIV). No questions asked. No curiosity expressed at the utter strangeness of this statement. What do you mean, “fish for people”? The men simply “left everything, and followed him” (v.11).
It was the same with Matthew. Jesus hadn’t yet shaken Matthew’s hand before He was inviting the man along, saying, “Follow me!” Matthew’s response? Leaving everything behind, “he got up and began to follow him” (vv.27–28).
As a result of the disciples’ responses, they ended up on the adventure of a lifetime. Full of pain and heartache, yes, but oh, how it was worth it.
While reading today’s passage, I found myself feeling jealous of the disciples’ seemingly easy faith—and resonating with the Pharisees’ suspicious and questioning attitude. In some seasons, faith is easy. My heart believes. I see God at work and can faithfully follow. These days, faith is not coming as easily. My head is loud: This isn’t practical! This isn’t logical! Make a better plan for yourself! My heart is afraid: What if this doesn’t work out? What if Jesus was wrong? What if this will all be for nothing? I am uncertain of taking the next step Christ is calling me to. I am wary of the unlit path before me, even with Christ beside me.
But what does Jesus say? Don’t be afraid. Follow me.
Perhaps the disciples’ faith is not the point here, so much as Jesus’s belief in them. He had faith in Peter, James, John, and Matthew, didn’t He? He saw something in them they did not see in themselves, or else He wouldn’t have asked them to follow Him. Maybe when my faith feels weak, I do not need to muster more. Maybe it’s enough to remember I was called. Sometimes faith precedes the step. Sometimes it comes after.
The response to Jesus by these first disciples is immediate and whole-hearted. They leave everything behind. They follow Him—not because they are pious or perfect, but because Jesus is worth following. All they know at this point is they want to be near Him. So do I. Let’s surrender our hearts and our heads to Christ today. Let Him lead us on the unlit path. It may have pain and heartache, but oh, my friends, I think it will be worth it.
I’ve come back to this day to read it again. I’m again reminded that it’s not about me. It’s about Him. HE believes in me, HE gives me strength. Through HIM I can. I can trust Him and follow Him. And I will!
“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Lk 5:16). This. Jesus was God. But. He was also man. And He needed time away from everything and everyone to draw strength from His Father. How much more do I need to step away from the busyness of life to talk to God? To know Him. To meditate on His Word. His character. His works. He tells me I can trust Him and rest in Him. But I have to know Him and cling to Him. And when life gets busier I need that time so much more! Not less.
Oh how I want to follow Jesus and have a relationship with him as he is our soon coming bridegroom
With the new year upon us, everyone is all about resolutions and the whole, “new year, new me” stuff. Prior to the new year, some time in November or a little sooner, I knew that I needed to strengthen my walk with Christ.
I’ve been trying to be diligent each and every day. I have slowly been integrating different ways for the Lord to influence my life. It started with a couple’s devotional with my husband, then to us beginning to read the Bible from start to finish together (reading aloud every morning), to a 365 promises devotional that I write down in a journal and finally incorporating the lessons from She Reads Truth. Granted, I have fallen behind with the latter of the list, I am keeping myself in the word and trusting what Jesus has in store for me.
It’s hard some days though when it hurts just rolling out of bed, the stomach pains come through in spite of the pain patch on my arm. And mentally there are days where the anxiety just surmounts on my shoulders and I feel like I am carrying the entire weight of it on me. What I know at the end of every day is that Christ is my savior and king and that I just need to trust in Him. Trust that He has all the answers and that He will meet all of my needs.
Lord, I do admit I am stuck in a rut. I believed you had plans for me, had faith in you to get me through nursing school. Now I have been a nurse almost a year and feel so mundane. I feel like what I do daily has nothing to do with you. Open my eyes to my calling. Help me to see your work and your work through me in the everyday Lord. I am no doubt in a rut, and I know getting out requires action. Lord please help me to take that action. Please guide me as to what that action should be. I pray that I first start prioritizing my time with you. I pray I wake early and go to a quite place if that’s what I must do to spend time with you. I want my relationship with you to come first, bc it has not in a long time and I’m aware of that. Please Lord, I ask for the fire to be lit in me again.
In your name I pray,
Amen.
Trust is a big part of any relationship… I’ve gave my trust to people who’ve let me down so many times…its time to put my trust into God who’s always shown me the way when I was lost.. ❤️❤️
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:31-32
…how humbling it is to know that Jesus lowered himself to heal the sick and save the lost.
My favourite part is how the apostles “left everything.” Oh, how much I pray for trust and belief like that! I pray that I would hold things in this world with open hands, ready to give it all up if God called me to. I pray we have attitudes like that. I want to have wholehearted and un-denying belief that though my God is leading me into waters unknown, it will be oh so worth it!