Following Jesus

This past week as we’ve read Luke’s account of the calling of the disciples, I find it fascinating that these men “left everything and went with Jesus” (Luke 5:11b). The picture I get is them walking away from their boats, nets, livelihood, even families to follow Jesus. Now you might say, “This was Jesus…of course they responded to his invitation!” But so many did not. Throughout the Gospels we find hundreds, maybe thousands following Jesus one day, and then the next account tells of only a handful following him. What clicked for this handful that they would abandon all for Jesus’ sake? I don’t think they were given any special revelation by God…at least the text would not support it. Were they holding out hope for a better future? Was it the gleam in Jesus’ eyes? Were they just fed up with the status quo? Whatever it was, we need more of it today. More people willing to think less of self and more of others…more people willing to serve than demanding to be served. If we are to usher in the Kingdom here on earth, we need more men and women willing to step out in faith on the invitation of Jesus to become fishers of men to a lost and dying world. Bryan had a wonderful analogy in last week’s Sunday school class. He observed in 5:11a that these men (Peter, James, & John) "pulled their boats up on the shore" and left them there. Not only did this require extra work...it's as if they had no intention of ever going back to fishing. Perhaps it’s too easy for us to try a little Jesus and then go back to whatever we were doing before He called us.