READ: Matthew 4:18-22
Jesus Christ was way ahead of His time. Even before the internet, before smartphones, before Facebook, before Twitter, before Instagram, before Snapchat, . . . Jesus invited people to “follow” Him. Following Jesus is much more than keeping up with His status or His daily story. Living life in the same way as Jesus did requires RESPONDING to His INVITATION to FOLLOW Him with our LIVES! Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. The invitation to follow Jesus is no casual invitation. Following Jesus is not like social media where we observe or admire someone from a distance, it is entering into the same life as He lived. The greek words “δευτε οπισω” together translated “follow” mean to “come along behind”. Jesus invitation to follow was not physical follow the leader, but an invitation to get close to Him, to get near to Him, and to imitate His life. For the disciples, following Jesus meant a dramatic shift in the overall direction and purpose of their lives.
What response does Jesus’ invitation to follow Him require? Andrew, Simon, James, and John all did two things in response to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. This is how we are to respond to Jesus’ invitation as well.
Following Jesus requires an IMMEDIATE response (vss 20, 22) – Most of us want immediate everything, . . . except when it comes to making major commitments. When we receive an invitation, we wait until the very last minute in order to keep our options open. We like to consider the possibilities before we go all in on anything. If we commit too early, we might miss out on something better. The disciples responded to Jesus invitation to follow Him “immediately”. They didn’t wait for a less demanding leader, they didn’t wait until their life circumstances were more favorable, they didn’t wait until they knew all the details of what following Jesus would mean. If they would have waited, they would have missed out! At any moment we sense Jesus inviting us to follow Him, we must not wait. We must respond immediately with our whole lives!
Following Jesus requires LEAVING behind ANYTHING in life that we DEPEND on (vss 20, 22) – We would be considered foolish if we just left things of value behind. If we study at the library, we don’t just leave our laptop behind in the cubicle. If we go to a friend’s house, we don’t just leave our cell phone behind on the counter. If we drive to the store, we don’t just leave our car with keys in the ignition and walk home. That would be foolish. And yet, why would Andrew, Simon, James, and John “leave” their nets, boat, and father behind to follow Jesus? Because they understood that accepting the invitation to follow Jesus was the most important, most valuable, and most meaningful thing they could do with their lives. There is nothing in life worth holding on to if it means missing out on following Christ.
CONCLUSION
Jesus Christ has sent all of us a follower request. Jesus didn’t just invite Simon, Andrew, James, and John, He invited all twelve of His disciples to follow Him and each of them responded yes with their lives. Jesus Christ invites all of us to follow Him. The invitation is not an invitation to respond sometime in the future, but an invitation to respond right now today. The invitation is an invitation that is going to demand that our lives dramatically change even if it means giving up something that we depend on in life. Don’t miss out on the most important, most valuable, most meaningful thing you can do with your life! What is your response to Jesus’s invitation to “follow Him”?
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