Scripture:
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.
Observation:
After almost 2 years of writing and saying over and over again… this is one of my favorite portions of scripture. I have finally determined that Matthew is the book that I seem to turn to the most. It’s just cram-packed full of good stuff. It’s not always easy stuff like the scripture that was chosen this morning, but it’s great for shaping our walk with Jesus. Looking at what is said in GOD’S word this morning you might think the title is not suitable, so I want you to buckle up I have something to show you, and I will make it quick due to personal time restraints. What we know from GOD’S word is that Jesus had just come out of a time of fasting for 40 days where when HE was weak the tempter came to HIM and did all he could to trip HIM up. Offering HIM food, prestige, and notoriety. In which HE turned down, and that’s where we pick up in the word. Walking by the Sea of Galilee, it’s time to start putting together a ministry team seeing Peter and his brother Andrew Jesus makes a simple statement… follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. The scripture says they put down their nets and followed HIM. They didn’t ask where they were going, how long they would be gone, or what it entailed. They just did what was asked of them. It was easy for them. Putting down all the hard work of fishing to follow this man and put their fishing skills to work in a whole other area. That sounds like a great idea. Peter and Andrew didn’t ask, and Jesus didn’t volunteer the information. A little bit further down the shore, almost the very same request was made to John and James, who were mending their nets in the boat. The response was the same laying down their nets, and they followed HIM. Without any inquiry as to where they were going or what they would be doing, just the simple instructions to follow me. This story seems fluffy and good, and most of us can get in line right behind Jesus and follow HIM right to the ends of the earth.
Application:
Ok, so let’s put this all into perspective. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Sitting in the back of that church. Thinking I’m not sure any of these people want me here, let alone like me at all. I remember hearing HIS voice in my heart saying the very same thing… follow me. Walking down to the altar to give my life to Jesus, I did not receive any instructions as to what I would be doing from that point in my life forward. Just a simple follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men. On my knees at the altar, there were no further instructions given. In fact, it wasn’t until I started reading the bible that I saw the rest of the plan, and even then, it was only bits and pieces at a time. GOD has a wonderful way of bringing us right to a painful moment where we have no choice but to trust HIM. HE never shows us too much. I know why now, but at first, in this walk with HIM, I wanted to know it all. I wanted to direct the path and follow HIM at the same time, but it just didn’t work that way. Looking at what Peter said to Jesus when HE told him HE was going to have to die is a key to what it looks like to truly follow HIM. Matthew chapter 16 verse 23, and Mark chapter 8 verse 33 say a lot about the response that is given to Peter when his plan doesn’t quite follow the plan that GOD has for HIS son Jesus. I believe it’s something like,” Get behind me, Satan, you are a hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of GOD, but the things of man. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Peter to see his teacher preparing to be crucified. The man that he had laid down his net for would lay down HIS life for him. It was all too much to comprehend. So what happens in our lives when we hear the words follow me… but what we are looking at doesn’t look like fun. It doesn’t look fluffy and pretty like fishing for men. The one thing that Jesus never said when HE started putting together HIS ministry group is to follow me into a life of ease and comfort. I just want to tell you so that you will be better prepared. It’s not always going to be easy. GOD has a plan that involves some discomfort and sometimes outright pain that WWE just won’t understand in the moment, but it’s the other side of it that HE is thinking about. Following Jesus for Peter… one of HIS right-hand men eventually looked like whaching the man he put it all down for being beaten beyond HIS own mother, being able to recognize HIM and later being beaten himself… not to even mention Peter’s life ending in much the same manner. It’s not always going to be easy. But that was the request. The request was to follow me. Count it all joy. The pressures of life create the diamonds we buy. It’s a stone so hard that it can cut glass and so priceless that it’s sought after by most of the world. Don’t let the pressure crush you let it shape you into the jem GOD created you to be.
Prayer:
Father, you have a plan for every moment in our lives. You know exactly what it’s going to take for us to reflect you. The master chess player. Always thinking 20 moves ahead. You knew that if we saw the whole plan that we would run from the moments that looked painful out of self-preservation. But it’s those very moments that you use to shape our faith in you. Your plan is good and means us no harm. You are faithful and true to your word. As we follow you and trust you, you bring us through the fire refined and shining like a new Dimond. All we can ask is that you lead us through the uncertainty of life so that we can see the plan you have for us inside the promised land. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen