CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
Matthew 4:18-20
Jesus has begun His ministry. In Matthew 4:18 He is found walking along the Sea of Galilee; He sees two men, brothers, (NKJV) “Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.” In Matthew 4:19 Jesus says the words to Simon-Peter and Andrew that He calls us to through His Holy Spirit today: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The reaction of these two men is the desired reaction that God desires of us when He speaks to our hearts. Matthew 4:20 states, “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”
This is the response of a sincere heart to the call of God on our lives.
When Jesus called Simon-Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him, they did not reply with a smile, “Thanks for the offer, we’ll get back with You on that after we think about it for a while.” Matthew 4:20 teaches us, “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” These were not the prominent men of the day, but simple, lowly fishermen, striving to make a living for their families. They immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Him. They declared for their lives at that moment of being called by Jesus to follow Him. He was immediately put first in their lives. He immediately became the most important thing in their lives. He immediately changed their lives forever.
Jesus wants to change my life – and your life – forever. He has everything that your heart desires as the desires of your heart are longing for the fulfillment that only comes from the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. It is not a change that is going to leave you wishing you had never given up the things of this world, but a change that replaces the desires of this world with forgiveness from them. It is a change that fills your heart with the very thing that your heart has been searching for all your life. It is a change from living in the sinful nature to living in the grace of God as He extends His love to you. It is salvation in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that opening our hearts to Jesus and believing in Him as our Lord and Savior is not letting go of things we need but letting go of things that are holding us back from the life that You have designed for us. It is trusting in You to lead us in a better way of life than that which we think we can figure out on our own. Please help us to see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to You LORD except through Jesus (John 14:6). In Jesus name I pray, amen.