Matthew 4:18–22 (NKJV): 18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
The first disciples of Christ were called by Jesus from fishermen to become fishers of men. Instead of catching fish for a living, they became instruments of Christ to make disciples of the nations. They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, and brothers, John and James. Except for a brief few days where they went back to their secular trade after the death of Jesus on the cross, they took on their spiritual calling with fervour and followed Jesus until the very end. They transited from their secular jobs into full-time ministry seamlessly and did not look back, dying with their boots on the ground.
The point I like to highlight this morning is the immediacy of their response to Jesus’s calling. This was something that intrigued and fascinated me since I was a young Christian. I mean, they dropped everything and immediately followed Jesus. No hesitation. No contemplation. No analysis. Just immediate response. No diversion. There was zero chance for any changing of minds. They made up their minds and took action instantly. They didn’t go home to consult their families. Or, as Jesus said later, let the dead bury their dead (see Luke 9:60).
As drastic as the last advice from Jesus may sound, the point is actually that we are solely and exclusively responsible for our spiritual decisions, and that includes the decision whether to accept the free gift of salvation that comes with a radical transformation of our lives as every believer is expected to carry his own cross. If we want the rewards of the fellowship with Christ, we need to accept the costs that come with me. We become bondservants of God in exchange for the privilege to become pilgrims, merely passing through this world to our eternal home.
As we marvel at the speed and unconditional response of the first disciples, let us not take too long making decisions of faith for Christ. If it is for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, why wait anymore? Just respond to His calling and take the step of faith! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 