Today’s Reading: Matthew 4:18-22 ESV

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

Matthew 4:19

These were Jesus’ words to Peter and Andrew who were fishermen. Jesus had spoken with authority that they left their boats and followed Jesus IMMEDIATELY. James and John were also called so they IMMEDIATELY left their boats and their father and followed Jesus. They were willing to follow Him to be fishers of men, a complete change in their lives. God will use them to bring people to Himself. They will be disciples of Jesus who would preach His good news and make other disciples.

How about you? Have you decided to follow Jesus? Did you respond in prayer to His call from the previous article? I believe that once we made Jesus our Lord and Savior, we ought to follow Him IMMEDIATELY. That does not mean we have to leave our jobs and family because God placed us wherever we are for a purpose. We can share the good news to our family, neighbors, coworkers and people around us. Jesus’ heart’s desire is that no one should perish. He wants everyone to come to repentance. His will for us is to win souls. These fishermen were uneducated; we should not have any excuse to be able to share our faith.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

Nokseng, a Garo man, a tribe from Meghalaya which then was in Assam, along with his family decided to follow Jesus Christ in the middle of the 19th century through the efforts of an American Baptist missionary. Called to renounce his faith by the village chief, the convert declared, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” His two children were killed and in response to threats to his wife, he continued, “Though no one join me, still I will follow.” His wife was killed, and he was executed while singing, “The world behind me, The cross before me.” This display of faith is reported to have led to the conversion of the chief and others in the village. Nokseng followed Jesus’ footsteps and persevered until the end resulting in the conversion of others.

“Following Jesus requires sacrifice. There are times when the immediate benefit of going our own way may appear to outweigh the potential gains of obedience. Jesus wants us to know that our sacrifices aren’t in vain, and there’s nothing we can surrender that exceeds what’s attained in following Him” (7 Promises for Those Who Follow Jesus).

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

2 Timothy 4:5 NLT

The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

It’s my prayer that as we go over Jesus’ Words daily, our passion for Him will grow deeper resulting in a deeper passion to win souls. In Jesus name, Amen.