Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Matthew 4:18-22.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).
We are continuing to track the life of Christ as faithfully
recorded in Matthew.
We have learned of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, his rearing
in Nazareth, his baptism by John, his temptation in the wilderness, and his preaching
in Capernaum and throughout Galilee. Now we read of how Christ drew men to
himself and called them to become his disciples.
A disciple is a student or a follower, something like an apprentice.
How did you learn a trade in the first century? You followed an expert around
and learned from him by watching his example and listening to his words. Many
trades and professions still work that way today (from plumbers to physicians).
Christ is the master teacher, and his disciples or followers
are his students. To become a believer is to enter the school of Christ and to
learn from him.
Matthew 4:18-22 describes the call extended to two sets of
brothers: Peter and Andrew, and James and John. They would be among the
original Twelve apostles and would be mightily used of God. There is value in
seeing the call of the men Christ sovereignly chose to be the pillars of his
church.
There are also general things we learn here about
discipleship that apply to any of us, who will never be apostles, about what it
means to follow Christ.
First, Christ also sees us and calls us to follow him. “If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow me” (Luke 9:23).
The first disciples were ordinary fishermen. Later when the
apostles preach Jesus in the temple, the authorities will take note of their boldness
marveling that they were “unlearned and ignorant men” that “had been with Jesus”
(Acts 4:13).
Second, the call to follow is urgent and demands thoughtful yet
immediate response: “And they straightway left their nets and followed
him” (Matt 4:20); “And they immediately left their ship and their father, and
followed him” (Matt 4:22).
Notice that they left their nets behind. Whatever our other
vocation, we have a new primary vocation and that is serving Christ. For some
it will be, in fact, a call to the vocational ministry, for all God’s people, however,
there will be a call to be part of the great work of evangelism, drawing in the
gospel net and seeing men and women come to Christ.
Notice that James and John left their father behind. Christ must
have first place above all our human relations, precious though they may be.
Christ calls us to count the costs (cf. Luke 14:25-33). Don’t start a tower you can’t finish. Don’t enter
a battle that you will later flee from. After counting the costs, however, one should also respond with
immediacy and with joy. Let us put our hand to the plow and never look back. In
the end, we will find that it will have all been worth it!
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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