“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 4:19-20
Peter and Andrew followed Jesus immediately. It wasn’t, “they talked it over and agreed to go back to tell their boss (father) goodbye.” It wasn’t, “Peter and Andrew researched the new rabbi and had a meeting at Starbucks before deciding to get up and go.” It wasn’t, “we heard about this new preacher and we’re thinking of going to his church.” AT ONCE, Peter and Andrew followed Jesus.
In our time, if we read something online and agree, we immediately “like” it. Or, if we see something we like on Amazon (or any other store) and we can buy it, we immediately buy it. Or, if we want fast food, we can quickly find the nearest McDonalds (or Whataburger; hey, I’m from Texas). You get the drift. If we want it or like it, we can immediately act on it.
That’s what Peter and Andrew did when Jesus invited them to follow Him. At once, they left their nets and followed Him. It’s reasonable to assume they’d heard about Jesus, knew about Him from local chatter; Andrew definitely had, because he knew John the Baptist. Perhaps they had talked between themselves, saying that, if they ever met this Jesus, they would follow Him to see what He would say and do. Now, they met Jesus and followed through by following Him. Immediately.
If you don’t follow Jesus, what’s stopping you? More appropriately, who’s stopping you? You know who; look in the mirror.
I’m not saying this to accuse you, but I am saying it to splash some cold water on you. “Our excuses” for not following Jesus are because of “our.” Us; you; me. We choose not to. Sure, there are lots of reasons; all of them make sense and many seem valid. Read the parable of the banquet in Luke 14. The folks in that parable had understandable reasons for not attending the king’s banquet. But the hard fact is that they chose to not do it; them, they, us, you, me. Chose. Result? Read the parable. Splash again. Don’t let that happen to you.
For most people, if they read what Jesus said and did in the Gospels, they want to know more. Jesus is both meek and mild AND strong and just. His words can seem harsh at times, but if people do the work of reading for context, nearly everyone would find His words and actions are actually full of loving mercy. If you don’t know much about the Bible, start in Matthew, not Genesis. Start with Jesus, because it’s about Jesus. It won’t be long until you, like Peter and Andrew, want to drop everything and follow Him now. Find out today. You would if it were Amazon.
For more reading: Mark 10:21, Luke 5:28, Luke 14:16-24, John 1:40-43, Matthew 4:21
Lord Jesus, I follow You alone today. Now.
Practical Proverbs 