December 11 - Forsake & Follow.

Luke 5:9-11
“For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”
 
Peter’s partial obedience led to Christ teaching him a lesson. He was astonished at the abundance of fish they had because he only let down one net, disobeying Christ’s command to “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
 
Christ used this situation to show them their purpose, to be fishers of men. Notice that once the Master gave this revelation, they immediately brought the ships to land. They could have gone home to their parents, their jobs, and their friends; but instead “they forsook all, and followed him.” Scripture doesn’t record them questioning what it meant to “catch men” or how their needs would be supplied. They simply made a choice to forsake & follow Him; and their lives were never the same.
 
Friends To Serve With
Mark 1:17-20
“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”
 
Andrew and Peter left their nets to follow Him, and a little farther down the road James and John answered the same call. These men left their fathers and everything they had; yet the Lord gave them friends to serve with, partners in the ministry. When we answer the call to serve Him, He will give us people to along the way to grow and serve with.
 
Fully Supplied
Luke 18:28-30
“Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”
 
Christ promised Peter that anyone who forsakes their house, family, friends, spouse, or children for His sake shall receive much more in return. Whatever we surrender for His sake, we shall receive so much more! Yet in order to receive these blessings, we must first forsake & follow Him.
 
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
 
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
 
All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.
Judson W. Van De Venter
 
A hymn sang often out of routine, but do we really mean the words we sing?
 
 
Bible Reading:
Hosea 1-3  |  Hebrews 11  |  Psalm 134