Followers Wanted
Posted by Karah
Pause
Quiet your heart and reflect on the meaning of the word follow. Ask God to give you a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.
“Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fishers of men!” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. —Mark 1:17-18
Read Mark 1:14-20 in your Bible. Underline the phrase “the time is fulfilled” in verse 15. The Messiah God had promised long ago had entered history, and His plan of redemption was being fulfilled. Jesus’ first step was to call people to follow Him. Dig deeper with these questions:
The first disciples Jesus called were fishermen, uneducated and unimportant by society’s standards. What does that fact teach you about Jesus’ kingdom? Explain.
“Fishers of men” was a term Old Testament prophets used to describe gathering people for judgment, but Jesus was inviting Simon and Andrew to join Him in the urgent task of rescuing people from judgment. How does Jesus rescue us from judgment? Explain.
Think about the disciples’ lives before and after their encounter with Jesus. How was their life with Christ different from their life before? How is your life different from the way you lived before meeting Jesus?
Respond
Jesus called these men to simply follow Him. He didn’t tell them to get it all together or to understand every last detail. He called them to relationship with Him. He is still calling disciples to follow Him today.
Are you a disciple of Christ? Based on what?
Mull over how quickly the disciples responded to Jesus’ invitation. Do you typically follow immediately when Jesus calls you? Why or why not? Ask Him for a heart that desires to follow Him immediately, even when you don’t completely understand.
Following Jesus implies a relationship, allowing Him to be your teacher and guide. In what ways are you allowing Jesus to guide and lead you? In what areas are you trying to be the one in charge? What steps will you take today to give Jesus absolute control? List three in your journal.
For further study, read Follow Me: A Call to Live. A Call to Die by David Platt (Tyndale House Publishers, 2013).
Behind the Story
When calling the first disciples, Jesus used a concept that would have been familiar to these men: fishing. This had been the primary activity of their lives prior to their calling. Jesus told these new disciples they would now fish for men. He meant that their lives would no longer revolve around their old priorities. Their lives would now revolve around the most important thing—helping people experience new life through Jesus.
The Point
Disciples are called to live a new way of life.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions