NIV
Matthew 4
The Calling of the First Disciples
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him.
21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
King James
Matthew 4
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
English Standard
Matthew 4
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 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. 19And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21And 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. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
The Message
Matthew 4
18-20Walking 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.
21-22A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.
At once!
Immediately!
The magnitude of those words resonate in my head. Jesus simply called to them and they dropped their nets. Those nets weren’t purchased at Target they were handmade, that takes time and skill. This was their lives. This was how they supported themselves. Everyone and everything was to be left behind. They didn’t pack boxes nor did they grab a change of clothes. No girl in their eyes to say good bye to. No buddies to shake hands with and wish them well. They took that step without support of loved ones.
Yesterday I spent some time in the grocery store examining three choices of chicken stuff. Before that I spent some time thinking about how much time I had before I had to pick up the kids because I was delayed at the mechanic’s getting my oil changed, it took two hours. (They washed it without asking or telling me, a nice serendipity) Before that I debated on what kind of oil to put into the car. I chose the better stuff. (a man might tell me different or he might frown because I pay to have it done but I am manless, I’ve paid to have the oil changed from the get go with this car.
Back to my thought process:
I have to think things out. I have to look at all sides. I’ve heard of others who just went, they heard God calling and they sold the house and went. When I was young I would do some spontaneous things but to give up a life to live in uncertainty just wasn’t me. I really have to think on this one. If you are the man of the house who has heard the calling and you convince your family to follow you to another state making job changes, school changes, home changes, and friend changes sure you are freefalling with God but you have your family. These men just dropped the nets without any discussion. James and John didn’t ask their father if they should go, they just went.
Perhaps that doesn’t blow you away!
It sure does me!
I took a leap of faith when I made the call to bring the beginning to the end of my marriage after spending a huge amount of time watching, thinking, and most of all praying. But I did all of those things. Giving time to mull of things is important you do need to be sure that what you’re doing is what is best for you and your family. I’m ending a things after a lot of thought, after God reviled to me that I was right in doing so.
I do believe that God calls us to go with Him and clearly He does it that quickly. I just have never heard that call and it blows me away to think of feeling His security to take that freefall.
Have you ever been called to do so that quickly
at once~ immediately ?
Did you go straightway go?
Or did you spend time thinking about it?
9 comments:
That does blow me away Milly! I wonder what it would take to move me that fast? Maybe an incarnation of God?
Yes having Jesus call us out would do it.
Would we have to think about it first?
Guess if Jesus was there I wouldn't be able to say "I'll pray about it." :)
I have.
Back about 12 years ago my church fellowship announced they were planting a new church in Columbus. I was living in Detroit with my wife and 18 month old at the time and my sister and her family lived here in Columbus. (I also believed some silly things about who is "in the kingdom" and who is not, which factored into my decision.) There was no church like ours anywhere where my family lived, so this would be the first time "the kingdom" was nearby. I knew immediately that I should go.
I approached my wife about it. She had heard no such calling, but supported my decision. I told out minister of our interest. A few months later, we traveled to Chicago to interview to be on the mission team to Columbus. A couple weeks after that we were told that we had not been chosen. I was sad, but content that it was not meant to be. Maybe 2 weeks later, we got a call that here had been a change of plans and we were invited to joint them after all. Oh, and can we still be in Columbus when everyone else would be, in about 12 days?
We both quit our jobs, with maybe a week's notice. We talked our way out of our apartment lease. We asked my sister if we could stay in their basement for up to a month while we got jobs and an apartment. We packed a 24' U-Haul with our stuff and we left. Oh, and the day we left, we found out Maria was pregnant with baby #2. So, off we went to a new state with little money, no jobs, no apartment, no health insurance and a baby on the way.
In the end, we ended up with a nicer 3 bedroom townhouse for less rent than our 2 bedroom apartment had been (and they rented to us with no reportable income. "I'm sure you'll do fine" the landlord said.) I had a better job paying more money and one that launched me in a new career. My new job's health insurance covered the pregnancy. My new commute was about 15 minutes instead of 40. And in those early months of the church we saw God do some mind boggling things. I was stretched and challenged, big time. We met so many people and shared Jesus with them. We grew from about 25 at the start to over 100 in about a year, but in the 10 years since have struggled to get over 125. I miss those days some times.
Oh, and on your car, I'm a car guy who doesn't change his own oil. Why should I mess with that dirty job when I can get someone to do it for me for 420? And don't let them talk you into the fancy oil, the regular is just fine. The Synthetics are good if you have a high zoot car, your Chevy will be happy with the standard stuff. Check your owners manual for the grade (something like 5W20) and make sure you use that, though. While you're in that manual, check the oil change interval too. I bet it's at least 5,000 miles, likely more. Both of my cars are 7,500 and that's when I do it. The reason the oil change places want you to do it sooner is that they have boat payments due.
That was one inspiring comment salguod!!
hmmm....good question, millster!
Thanks KB. :-D
Oh, and I meant $20 not 420. :-P
Amazing story Salgoud. That is a lot of faith in God and a lot of faith in a husband. It’s cool to hear of this kind of calling and faith.
Now I really want to go to Ohio to play Rummikub!
I paid around 40 to get the oil changed. It was my idea to have them change it the first time because he wrecked his knee and in the long run it’s about the same if not less and no mess. They treat me well so I’ll stick with them, I ask them to help a chick out with stuff. I have to have something looked at this week. Sara is a well kept car. (Miss Littles named her) She also tells me when she needs her oil changed.
I was thinking you meant 4.20 and wondered where on earth can you save that kind of cash at. I use coupons they send me and those that I can find in a paper and still the lowest is 15.00.
I usually ponder the voice of God, wondering whether it's really God.
Post a Comment