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May I Repeat

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. – Mark 1:16-20 

A dear friend and one time co-worker once pointed out to me that what has come to be known as ‘The Great Commission’ was only spoken by Jesus once (as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 and elsewhere). However, Jesus’ call to ‘follow me’ occurs repeatedly throughout the Gospels. Up to that point this simple observation had eluded me. Like so many before I had been so captivated by the grandiose vision of going to the ends of the earth that I’d missed the more mundane…and infinitely more challenging call to simply follow Jesus.

For most of us going to the ends of the earth is a big, hairy, audacious goal that, truth be told, we’ll probably never accomplish. So we satisfy ourselves with stories from missionaries and the occasional, or even regular, financial gift toward global outreach. And I’m in no way denigrating those efforts. But today let’s focus on the words Jesus so often repeated…’Follow me.’

I say this is infinitely more challenging because it calls us to a daily pursuit of Christ. It is a challenge to lay down our (nets, plows, tax accounts, fill in the blank with what occupies your time, mind and heart) and take up the cause of Christ. More to the point, the cause Christ has called you to, personally. It is a call to go where he leads and realize that, when you’re surrendered to His will, where ever you go today is where he leads. I don’t know where today will take you, but Christ does. Will you follow?

Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, strengthen me each day to not only hear your call to follow but to heed it, as well. By your Spirit give me the courage to lay down those things that distract and chase after you with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. Amen.