Follow Me

Early in His ministry, Jesus called men to be His disciples by saying, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."  (Matthew 4:19)  Of course, He was calling two men who were tending their nets as fishermen.  The words "Follow me"  are calling words.  They are words without the specifics of where, or how long.  Moses was called to free the Hebrews, the prophets were called to the work of an exiled people, but the call of the disciples is more akin to the non-specific call of Abram who was called simply to "Go...to the land that I will show you."  (Genesis 12:1)  The gospel writer John records calling words very much like those Abram heard when he remembered Jesus calling by saying, "Come and see."  (John 1:39)       

The disciples no doubt had their own notions, as do we all, about what it meant to respond to the calling words of Jesus.  But, Jesus does not tell them at this point that following Him means going to the cross to watch Him die.  Neither does He tell them the road they are choosing to travel will lead to a martyr's death.  Would they have gone had He told them?  Would we have decided a long time ago to follow Jesus if we could have seen where it was going to take us?  Would we choose the hard way of forgiving others instead of getting even, the narrow way of love that puts self aside, the life of no guarantees for our goodness?    

The one thing the old follower of Jesus will proclaim is that the call to follow leads to some surprising, strange, and unexpected places.  It puts us in some situations and circumstances we never would choose.  It takes us where we knew not where we were going.  Responding to the call of God is about going with a waiting spirit to see where it is that He wants to take us.  And, then going with nothing but our faith and an assurance of His grace