Seeking The Lord...NOW!

(Cross-Posted at Moms In The Right)

I've been reading the book of Matthew this week.  I just felt like starting from the very beginning, and taking it slow.  I read maybe half a chapter a day.  Not exactly "read the Bible in a year" pace, but I'm not really working on a timeline here :)

What struck me so dramatically today was the following passage:

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers - Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew- throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.  Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"  And they left their nets at once and followed him.  (Matthew 4:18-20, NLT)

Can you imagine?  There is no indicator that either of those men had ever seen or heard of Jesus before.  Yet, he walks up to them while they're in the middle of a day's work, says "come with me"...and they JUST. GO.

They drop everything.  At once.  They walk away without so much as a discussion, and they follow that man...that man who had to have had an irresistible and indescribable presence.  They left their lives as they knew it, and walked away to follow Jesus.

It seems...insane.  But isn't it exactly what he asks of all of us?  Walk away from what you know and from everything this world tells you is vital for your happiness...and follow me.  No promises of a perfect life.  No assurance that your suffering is over.  Just follow him.  And do it right NOW!

I hear him calling me to action sometimes, don't you?  That still small voice that encourages you to do something that's a touch past your comfort zone.  Or maybe not outside your comfort zone - just something that you weren't necessarily planning - like "call that person" or "give that person a hug" or "give that guy $10" or "that person needs to hear about me" or "come spend some time with me".  You know the voice - we know our shepherd's voice.

But how often do I stop what I'm doing - how often do I drop my "nets" - to follow him.  Too often it's only after a round of "right after I finish this" or "in a minute" or "seriously, you want me to do that?"  I wonder what work of his that I miss out on because I'm not willing to follow fully and immediately?  Makes me cringe.  I know I'm still his and he's still mine and that he loves me no matter what, but still...cringe.

Let's all try to make it our focus to really listen.  Listen and obey now, and ask questions later!  I imagine that there was plenty of time for Peter and Andrew to sit at Jesus' feet to ask their questions and have them answered...I trust that there will be for us too.

Seek The Lord Sunday Participants

1. Vanessa

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