Matthew 4:19,20
“Come, follow me” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” At once they left their nets and followed Him.

I don’t know if your like me, but sometimes I worry about a lot of things in my life that seem totally urgent and important and yet, aren’t. Maybe your mind works like mine: Bills are due on the 25th; the big project/presentation is this Thursday; I’ve got responsibilities at church on Sunday; I’m not getting along with my co-workers; my frustration levels are through the roof; when is life going to slow down?

Life throws us many challenges, and we often find ourselves so engrossed in our own agendas and problems that as Christians, we forget the simplicity of following Jesus. In Matthew 4:19,20, Jesus reminds us of His formula for a simple, satisfied life.

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”

Jesus told the disciples that day to leave everything they knew and follow Him. For many of them, this required leaving their jobs, their families, their securities and everything they knew, to follow the Savior. Notice the order in which Jesus lays down His request; he said “Follow me…AND…I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus is literally said “Follow to me 1st…and then…I will make something of your life”

You know, we normally get our formulas switched around. We normally think, I’ve got to make something of my life first, I’ve got to get out in front, get that promotion, get that education, get that position, get all my ducks in a row, get that car, get that house, teach that Sunday School class, act really spiritual…and of second importance, Jesus is there as well, and He can hop on the caboose car of the train called MY LIFE if He wants.

While we may want Jesus to ride in the caboose of our lives, Jesus doesn’t work that way. Jesus demands that we make him captain and engineer of our train. We’re called to follow Jesus first and foremost, and only then, will we we discover His calling in our lives and a passion for the gospel! So that begs the question…What about YOU? What are your dreams? What are your ambitions? What are your plans? Is Jesus at the front of those?

Too often in our lives, we mistake our lives as being all about us; Jesus says “No!”
True, genuine, powerful Christian lives have always been rooted in passionate FOLLOWER-SHIP of Jesus Christ! He calls us to pursue Him passionately, constantly & wholly, and then & only then, will He use our lives effectively for the Gospel.

When Jesus called, the disciples left their nets. They left their livelihood and their entire world to follow Jesus Christ! What about you? Have you left your nets behind? Maybe it’s the net of worry, maybe it’s the net of fear, maybe it’s the net of sexual slavery, or maybe it’s the net of ambition and pride. We all have nets that we have to let go of. Jesus is calling you to drop your nets and follow Him today. Will you answer His call?

-Pastor Josh