BIBLE BITES
FOLLOWERS
With the fingers pointed, they whispered: “Yeah, he’s a follower too. I can’t believe it. I would have thought he was a stronger person than that and much more perceptive. Can’t he see it’s a dead end street they’re on? Why would an intelligent and successful business person ever fall for such a thing and abandon all to become one of the followers?”
In a sense, we’re all followers – even leaders are followers. Some follow others while others follow their dreams but they are still ‘following’. Some follow the lure of money or power. Many are following the pull of a harmful habit, as if they were hooked to a tow-rope and being dragged along. Some jump on the bandwagon of discontents, agitators and bitter bullies and follow behind the ringleader who is also following his pet peeve and desire for revenge. Still following.
What are you following? Perhaps you are an introverted, strong-willed leader-type or even an extroverted, desire-to-be-liked leader. You have never really thought of yourself as a follower. But the reality is – you are following something in life. Or maybe you know you wear the label on your forehead ‘follower’ and you have followed, even in your school days, the wrong sorts of people and have suffered the consequences.
We’re all followers.
Two sets of brothers had been fishing and following their career path and financial goals. Yes, earlier they had come in contact with Christ – their individual moments of conversion. Peter and Andrew, John and James had encountered Jesus earlier. They heard His words; they saw His humble and modest lifestyle. They knew He had come from poor Nazareth and had recently moved into a home in Capernaum – but it certainly wasn’t a gated palace. (Matthew 4:13). They knew opinion was divided and not everyone was buying into His teachings and claims. They heard the rumours and gossip – the scuttlebutt down at the wharf and in the coffee shops. They knew He spent His days walking down dusty roads, along shorelines and through fields – walking in sandals, teaching and preaching. He wasn’t carried in some glass-covered, bullet-proof prophetmobile.
Against this backdrop, we read these words:
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
And he said to them,
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
(Mathew 4:18-20)
Have you responded to the “follow me” command yet?
And the story continues:
And going on from there he saw two other brothers,
James the son of Zebedee and John his brother,
in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets,
and He called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
(Matthew 4:21-22)
No longer following their own will or their own ambitions or aspirations – or even the goals their parents had set for them; they followed Him. It sure wouldn’t be smooth sailing with financial prosperity and popularity or a bed of roses for them – in this life. He didn’t dangle that before their eyes. The sole attraction was Christ Himself – His Person – who He was; His power and character and His beauties.
Who or what do you think would be best to follow in life?
Would you like to set your eyes on Him and follow Him today and tomorrow and throughout this year and for the rest of your life? Would you tell Him that as you finish reading this Bible Bite?
If you can handle the images and the tempo of this beautiful song, invest four minutes in this hymn and it will affect your thoughts today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NKIMfgOI_w&feature=related
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,
Peter Ramsay