Sometimes you’ve just got to stand up from what you are doing, and leave it to follow something better; we essentially have to choose to get out of our boat, our comfort zone and follow the sound of the voice of Jesus calling us.
That’s what the first followers of Jesus did. Jesus was walking on the shore of the sea of Galilee when he looked across the water at Peter and his brother Andrew in their fishing boat and called them to come follow Him. They immediately left their fishing nets and followed. (Matthew 4:8-22)
Matthew was busy doing his job as a tax collector when Jesus walked up to him and said, “Follow me”. He stood up from his tax collectors booth, and chose right then and then to walk away from the life he had known to follow Jesus.
All these men had something to lose; their livelihood, career aspirations and who they had previously been. But one call from Jesus was enough to cause them to leave it all behind.
How often do we allow our jobs, aspirations, the things we know and our past to dictate to us, rather than what Jesus is saying and calling us to. How often has he asked us to do something, go somewhere, pray for something or someone and we don’t leave our “desk” or step out of the boat? (Matthew 9:9-13)
Jesus has never ceased calling “come follow me”, to any of us. He still asks us to step out of our boats or to leave our desks if need be, to enable us to live the life we were created in Him to live. The question is “are we bothering to listen, and what will we do when we hear Him calling?”
Jesus is calling – what are you going to do today?
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9-13)
Prayer: Lord thankyou that you love me, and that you actually chose me and call my name. Help me to be like Peter, Andrew and Matthew when on hearing your voice chose to stand up from what they were doing and were prepared to leave it all to follow you. In Jesus name Amen.
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