Matthew 4:18-20
18 And 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.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And 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.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Have you ever wondered how after one conversation with Jesus, the disciples could forsake their entire livelihood and follow him? There is something in all of us that causes us to know God. (Jeremiah 24:7) It is an undeniable feeling and a knowing of truth. In the Gospels, we see so many times that people like Nicodemus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16 - 22) had interactions with Jesus and they knew without a doubt that He was sent from God. However, even that was not enough for most people to follow Him.
Oftentimes, It becomes so hard for many to follow the calling of God because we get so entangled in the cares of this life. (2 Timothy 2:4-6) The truth is, following God requires us to lay down our lives. (Mark 8:34-38) The issue is not that we don’t know that God is calling us, it is that many people will not have the courage to follow Him. There is a trend throughout the scriptures of many people laying down their lives and choosing to follow God. (Hebrews 11)It takes Faith, purity of heart and a love for God.
Now although the instructions that He gives us and the path we are to take will look different for all of us, we have to be willing to do whatever it takes to follow God. Don’t be satisfied living a life knowing that there is more that you could have been for Him. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's (Mark 12:13-17)
You may be a student and your only focus right now is finishing school, or securing a particular career path. Don’t get caught up in that as your identity. You are a servant of the Lord called to do His work. Always be ready to do whatever it takes for the sake of the call.
Reference Scriptures
Jeremiah 24:7
7And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
2 Timothy 2:4-6
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Mark 8:34
34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
You may be a student and your only focus right now is finishing school, or securing a particular career path. This was the case for Peter and Andrew, they were fishermen and that was their reality, waking up and ensuring a catch for their livelihood.
Matthew 19:16 - 22
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mark 12:13-17
13And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
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