One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers – Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew – throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Matthew 4:18-22
Has someone ever asked you to do something you were unsure of? Or maybe someone asked you to do something that is kind of absurd?
Peter, Andrew, James and John were all at work, doing the same thing they did every other day of the week – fishing in the Sea of Galilee. While we don’t know about Peter and Andrew, but for James and John this was a family business, they were out on the water with their father Zebedee.
For these four men, the day started out like any other day. They had no idea what this day would bring. Simply fishing and going about their day, these men had no idea how their lives were about to change.
Jesus called out to them.
“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
A small simple phrase. A phrase demanding action.
Come. Follow me.
It’s nothing complicated. It told the four men exactly what to do.
Come. Follow me.
While they did not know what “Come, follow me…” would look like, or how it would set them apart from others, or the sacrifices it would cause them to make, those simple words changed their lives.
And they left their nets at once and followed him.
No second guessing, no contemplation, no hesitation, no worry, no anxiety, no fear.
And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Leaving behind family, leaving behind friends, leaving behind jobs, leaving behind homes, leaving behind everything.
And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Standing at the edge of the Sea of Galilee, I pictured boats on the water. Jesus calling out to the disciples. Calling them to come, follow me.
I can picture this. I can imagine this. This I can fathom.
But leaving at once and following him? That is something I have struggled with – and it’s probably something that I will continue to struggle with at times in my faith.
Imagine the presence and proclamation of Jesus that drew these men to come and follow him. It must have been incredible.
Imagine the faith and trust these men had in man they did not know yet.
There are times in my life that I know God is calling me. Saying “Abbey, come, follow me.”
Sometimes the voice is saying:
“Abbey, talk to me.”
“Abbey, worship me.”
“Abbey, lean on me.”
“Abbey, trust me.”
“Abbey, serve me. Serve my people.”
“Abbey, love me. Love my people.”
“Abbey, share me.”
“Abbey, come, follow me.”
And I wish I could report that at once I left my nets and followed him. I want to have that kind of faith. I want to be that person. I am working towards it.
In what ways is God calling you to come, follow me? What is keeping you from following him?
God, we long to follow You. We long to answer Your call of “Come, follow me.” We let distractions and our own desires get in the way. Help us to be more like Peter, Andrew, James and John and to follow You and leave our nets behind. Amen.
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 
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