Eager And Ready - James And John

A little farther up the shore [Jesus] saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Matthew 4:21-22

Revolutionary War buffs know that certain members of the Massachusetts militia formed what we call the minutemen—so named because they were ready to drop everything and head out to battle at a moment’s notice. The minutemen made up about a fourth of the entire militia. These younger, more mobile men could respond to any threat, and thus they played a huge role in the colony’s victory over British forces.

The readiness of the minutemen recalls the eagerness of two young fishermen who dropped everything to follow Jesus. The brothers James and John didn’t waste so much as a minute when Jesus called them to his side.

James and John worked for their father, Zebedee, who owned his own fishing business. When they heard Jesus call them, these first-century minutemen responded immediately. They left their father and his hired hands to follow the Teacher’s lead.

As far as the biblical record is concerned, James and John didn’t even ask about their destination or agenda. They simply dropped their nets and followed.

Suppose that Jesus came by your place of business today and said to you, as he did to James and John, “Follow me.” Could you be called a minuteman for Christ? Could you immediately follow and serve him, wherever he went and whatever he asked you to do?

Though Jesus doesn’t call you to walk away from the life responsibilities he has given you, he still calls you to follow him in every area of life. Where do you think that call might take you? What do you believe that call will entail? What obstacles will you have to overcome to accept and follow? What changes must you make to become a minuteman for Christ?