The Calling of the Disciple
What does the calling of a follower of Jesus look like? What does following Jesus require of us? Can it be frightening to follow Jesus?
Following Jesus where he is leading us means we cannot stay where we are. If we are going to follow Jesus, we must leave what we have always done, and where we currently are, to do what Jesus calls us to do, and to go where he calls us to go. It can be frightening to follow Jesus’ call.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that after Jesus’ miracle of the great catch of fish, “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’ And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:10-11, ESV).
Jesus’ early disciples left their fishing trade to follow Jesus’ calling, even though it was unknown and frightening.
The disciple’s core competencies around fishing would now be used to fish for other people to follow Jesus.
To “fish for men”, or to “catch people for Jesus”, these disciples had to leave their old business, their tools of the trade, and their geographical location to go where Jesus was leading them and to achieve the results Jesus desired for his kingdom work in the world.
May we answer the call of Jesus in our lives, even in the face of our uncertainties and fear, and may we experience the joy and fruitfulness of following Jesus as we obey him and willingly leave everything to follow Jesus for his kingdom purposes.
A Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany: “O Lord, our heavenly Father, keep your household the Church continually in your true religion, that we who trust in the hope of your heavenly grace may always be defended by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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