Leaving And Following

He saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee. . . . And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. Matthew 4:21-22

James and John were helping their father run the family business. Commercial fishing required a lot of hard work from all three men, and that day they were mending nets. But in the middle of a busy workday, Jesus called the two brothers to follow him. He never asked their father for permission, never asked them to check their schedules, and never gave them time to find replacement workers. He just called them to follow.

For James and John to fulfill their calling, they had to leave their father to work by himself. They could not follow Jesus and help their father or help their father and follow Jesus. It was one or the other. Their purpose in life was to follow Jesus, and the time to follow was that very moment.

Because James and John chose to leave their father and the family business and follow Jesus, they enjoyed a special relationship with him. Along with Peter, they formed the “inner circle” of apostles. As such, they were allowed to take part in experiences with Jesus that the other disciples missed out on. For example, they saw the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3), and they were invited to pray with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-38).

When Jesus calls you to follow him, he wants your undivided attention. That’s serious business, so serious that you must turn away from anyone or anything that competes for your attention. It may mean disappointing someone, and it may mean giving up a part of your life that you truly enjoy.

Are you willing to leave everything and everyone behind to follow him?

Lord, make me willing to leave behind anyone or anything that would distract me from following you.