They Left Their Nets To Follow Jesus

-February 18, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

(Mark 1:18).

The first two disciples that Jesus called were two brothers Peter and Andrew. Jesus saw them and spoke to them, saying, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).

Andrew and Peter, James and John were all fishermen by trade. Fishing was their livelihood, their passion; but when Jesus called them they all to follow Him without delay or hesitation. Only Jesus knew their potential for the kingdom of God. They won many souls to Christ and established and strengthened the church.

• Immediately they left their nets – For them they left the physical nets of the fishing business, but they also left a lot more. Peter asked the Lord in Matthew 19:27, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have? The Lord promised them all to sit in twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. But He also promised them and all believers, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

What have we given up to follow the Lord? What nets have we left behind? Nets catch the fish by entangling them. There are nets that can hinder us and trap us. In those cases, we must cut the nets. No sacrifice is too great for the Lord! It may be friends, family, jobs, a cushioned lifestyle.

• They followed Him – Jesus said, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” To follow Jesus takes faith, commitment, dedication, and devotion. He wasn’t calling them to mere religion, but a personal relationship with Himself. The anonymous hymn writer wrote, “I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

Have a blessed day following Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Where Jesus goes, we go; what Jesus says, we say; what Jesus does, we do,

Dean