Come, Follow Me!

“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. Matthew 4:18-20 (The Message)

Jesus’ call to discipleship doesn’t come first before the wondrous cross-saving experience. Before we can become disciples, we need to hear first the invitation to become citizens of the Kingdom of Grace.

Jesus doesn’t force us to become new born-again Christians. The new-birth experience is the work of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t say, “Follow me.” Instead he tenderly calls us, “Come, follow me.” He invites us first. He bids us first to come before we can follow. Come first to Jesus and He will teach you how to follow. It is so difficult to follow if you have not yet come to Him. Only He can make you follow.

Notice too that when He bade his disciples to come and follow, there were no long arguments of persuasion and rationalism. Jesus simply offered them, “Come, follow me.” The simplicity of this call distinguishes Jesus from highly emotional preachers. When God calls, the Spirit is at work.

Often when we offer the invitation to accept God to others we become discouraged when they respond negatively. Whether an individual responds or not, the Christian instrument is just a mouthpiece of God. He speaks for God but the Spirit calls and moves the heart.

We will always hear God inviting us. When he says, “Come,” let’s leave our fishing nets behind and follow him all the way.

Even unto the cross.