Daily Devotion, April 25, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 4:18-22.

Our passage today describes Jesus calling four fishermen to follow him. We see Jesus is walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus spent much of his ministry. It was to the residents of the towns and villages bordering the lake that Jesus first preached, and he called his disciples from among the lake’s fishermen. It is in this tranquil setting we find Jesus walking along the shore. He sees two fishermen, Simon Peter and Andrew, who had already traveled with Jesus on a previous journey. Jesus calls out for them to join him as “fishers of men.” Scripture tells us they immediately follow Jesus. These two men knew the work of Jesus and were willing to follow him, but imagine the sacrifice of leaving their fishing work, the work they knew so well, to become fishers of men. 

The three continue walking along the shore, when Jesus sees two brothers also at work. James and John are sitting in the boat with their father mending their nets. Jesus calls them to leave behind their livelihood, their father, their routine, the beauty of the Sea of Galilee, and their friends to follow him. And they too immediately follow Jesus. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John are the first of twelve Jesus chooses to be his closest associates. Each one will leave his former occupation, income, and relationships in order to travel with Jesus. 

The disciples realized the call to follow Jesus meant sacrifice. They realized the journey they were on was not about them. Becoming a follower of Jesus meant turning control of their life over to him. And Jesus promised to teach them how to be a follower. This is a reminder of what Jesus told the disciples he would teach them when he first called them. He spent three years giving those lessons. After Easter, he sent them out to live those lessons.

In order to follow Jesus today, we may not be required to give up our job, our home, or our family, but we may need to make other kinds of sacrifices. God wants us to offer all of ourselves - our time, ambitions, finances, mind, emotions, attitudes - to him. Romans 12:1 (The Message) tells us, “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” 

Personal Worship Option:

What is God calling you to do this week in order to whole-heartedly follow him?

Following Jesus means we, like the disciples, will need to give up some things we love, but following Jesus is worth the cost.