Throwing convenience out the window.

can you picture it?

Jesus Christ is walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Its early morning time, with the sun just past the horizon, making its way up into the sky to shine on the earth for another day. He is walking along, not much to look at, really. In fact, he would probably walk right by without anyone noticing Him. It's an average day, you are on your way to the shore yourself, as you and your brother prepare for another days work, you two are fishermen, you see. You watch the sun slowly creep higher into the sky as you toil, gathering the nets to get them ready to be thrown into the sea. Perhaps today will be a good day, you think. Maybe it will bring an unexpected amount of fish, enough to pay for a few essential items that have been on your mind lately. You and your brother talk, conversing to pass the time as you go on about your day. You have a LOT of work to do. You start casting out your nets, eagerly hoping that fish will come. And then, so ever slightly, something grabs your attention. You see this man walking toward you and your brother. He calls the both or you to come and follow Him, and learn how to be fishers of men. You are not sure who he is at first, as you study him to conjure up a memory of why he would be calling for you. And then, suddenly, no-supernaturally, a light bulb goes off in your brain. This is they one they call Jesus.



I have been reading out of the book of Matthew this past week and a half. I am reading it slowly, and I am approaching with a completely different set of eyes. Thomas recommended that I read it and study it, and that is exactly what I am doing. It is amazing to see what God is teaching me through this book. His Word intrigues me, with an almost child-like fascination, and even though I want to read it all quickly, God in His glory is allowing me to read little by little and get things out of His word that I never have before. Take chapter 4, for example. After Jesus fasts for 40 days and 40 nights and is tempted by the devil, he left Nazareth and traveled to Galilee, where he began to preach. He told the people to repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (vs. 17). Matthew writes that wherever Jesus went, crowds followed Him, and miraculous events took place, and people were healed of their diseases. I think that Simon Peter and Andrew had followed Him, too. I think that they followed Him in a limited sense. Whatever happened, what faith they must have had to leave their nets that day that he first called out to them. What stuck out to me is that they left their nets immediately (vs.22). They didn't clean up or put anything away. They didn't return home to prepare. They simply followed Jesus. It must have been rather inconvenient for them. They must have lost a lot of money an fish that day after they left their boat in the water with their ns intact. But instead of going about their day, and making a profit, they left everything behind them to follow the one whom they called Jesus. They threw convenience out the window, and went on the wildest ride of their life.

So, back to that day. There you are, speechless at the event that just took place. You look at your brother, and he peeks over at you, and for a moment no one speaks. The Bible says that they left everything they had and followed their Savior. What would you do?