Come follow me & I will make you fishers of men!
Matthew 4: 18-20 narrated Jesus’ calling of the first two disciples, namely: Peter and Andrew, who were brothers. The situation and condition of their calling was quite interesting. I couldn’t imagine that they immediately left their family and their job when they were called by Jesus.
I was their opposite. It took me sometime to finally overcome the fear of becoming a full time serving follower of Jesus. I couldn’t imagine how Peter and Andrew ASAP abandoned their job and family.
But what impressed me more in the story was how Jesus called the brothers…
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. (verses 19, 20)
When Jesus calls us to become His ‘devoted followers’ (Disciples) it is always two folds:
- TO FOLLOW HIM. To walk, talk, think like Him and even feel the way He feels and empathizes with people. Live a life having a deep and intimate relationship with God. And living a life that doesn’t rely on self only and on fellow human beings (loved ones included) but first and foremost dependent on God, humble and obedient to Him.
- BE FISHER OF MEN. Look for people whom we will lead to become followers of Jesus too! And on reaching for people, we have to be like fishermen who first think like the fish so that they may attract and catch them. We have to think like those who do not have a close relationship with Jesus so that we may attract them and lead them to Christ.
But it is our bad that as Christians, the longer we stayed in a church the more we forget what it feels and thinks like those who are not in the church. We forget how it feels like coming for the first time in a church:
[1] a little apprehensive on what to wear, how to behave as non-members when people welcome them.
[2] a little intimidated and foreign of not knowing the Christian lingo that everyone knows or be called a “brother” and a “sister”.
[3] feeling strange and uncomfortable on how to sing the songs with the clapping and raising of hands, when to sit down and to stand up.
[4] and afraid of the sermons and preachings that may be condemning and guilt tripping or with all those threatening events before the end of the world.
[5] lastly, what to do during offering time and how much should be given.
If we are really serious with God’s calling let us make great attention on BECOMING LIKE JESUS and ELIMINATING THE UNNECESSARY INTIMIDATING CHURCH PRACTICES that make people apprehensive and eventually evading going to the church.
As devoted followers of Jesus Christ let us all make our efforts to MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO BE LED TO JESUS!
