Leaving it all for Jesus

I read something amazing in the Word yesterday morning and God keeps pricking my heart about this...LEAVING ALL BEHIND to follow Him.

In Matt 4:18-22, to paraphrase, Jesus sees Peter and Andrew. He asks them to follow Him. They immediately leave their nets and follow Jesus. Then, Jesus sees James and John and immediately they too leave their nets and their father and follow Jesus. I noticed something I never really did before (by the way, I love how the Word of God is always enlightening, new and teaches us afresh every single day)

Notice how Peter and Andrew left their nets, but Matthew tells us James and John lef their nets AND their father and followed Jesus (Matt 4:22)

I have always loved this picture in scripture! Here you have these burly fishermen, real men's men, who love God but they work for a living. They fish. That's just what they do...but it doesn't define "who they are." They are men who must have been religious even before Jesus came into their lives. Something about Jesus was different, that's for sure...but still...I believe they felt a calling in their life as God was working on their hearts all of their lives.

When I read this in the Gospels...I think to myself, "Cool!" They left it all! They were radical. They literally dropped their nets, stopped their status quo, ordinary way of life and followed Jesus.

Many pastors, Bible teachers, missionaries and other Christian leaders have done the same...They leave their old way of life behind, they leave their "day jobs" and enter into full time ministry...

But wait! Remember, Peter and Andrew were fishermen. Maybe they hated their jobs. Maybe they were just waiting for an opportunity to try something new...for something big, for something better. Peter and Andrew left their nets and they should be applauded for their obedience.

Look at James and John...the Word says they left their nets AND their father. This is what struck me. Family is so important. I just picture this strong father, maybe a widower, who loves his boys more than life itself. They worked day by day, side by side fishing...and they loved every minute of it. They were close...They laughed and enjoyed going to work fishing together. The father was so pleased that his boys worked with him. Who else was going to take over the business? Now all of a sudden his boys leave. They drop their nets and they leave. Was the father heart broken? Were James and John heartbroken? The scripture doesn't say. It just says, they left him. It's hard to leave family...especially when you are close...Nonetheless, God reminded me this morning that no love in this life can compare with His love for me. No desire in my life can be fulfilled apart from Him. He is it! He is all we need.I believe after the "shock" left the father, joy filled his heart because they left all to follow Jesus.

So as the new year is upon us let's LEAVE ALL BEHIND to follow Jesus. Whether you are clinging to your past, or whether you are letting relationships get in the way, DON'T ANY MORE. Make a choice to drop whatever nets you are holdig, whatever is in your way and follow Jesus completely. That's my prayer and I am sure it's yours too.