Discipleship

Matthew 4: 19-20 - “Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.” - NLT

For the next two months of this summer season, I want us to get back to what it is that Jesus called us to be. More than anything, Jesus called us to follow Him. In the time of Jesus there would have been a tradition of following a rabbi or teacher. Once the choice is made, one would follow the rabbi and do whatever it is the rabbi did, and say whatever it is that the rabbi would say.

When Jesus calls out to Peter and the others on the shoreline in Galilee, He is making it known that He would like to be their rabbi and that they would be His followers. He is about to teach them how to fish for people and increase the kingdom. These working class men, dropped the tools of their trade and instantly began to follow their teacher.

My prayer is that over the next two months we will see Jesus, the Messiah meeting people right where they are, in the middle of their daily routines. Helping us realize that we don’t need to be a perfect people, or “perfectly qualified” in order to follow Him and be used by Him.

I also hope that we understand that following Jesus can be rewarding, but it will demand the best of us and it will likely cost us a sacrifice of obedience to our teacher. These men had to abandon their primary source of income and security to take that next step into the unknown. Are we willing to follow Jesus so closely?

We have an obligation as those who say they are following Jesus, to step out in faith as we follow Him and understand that Jesus equips His followers. He is the source of our identity, our purpose, and empowers us to share His message with the world. I pray that you will join us on this journey, and that you will look to begin this life of discipleship, follower our Teacher and our Savior!

- Pastor Mike