Recently I re-read Matthew 4, where Jesus calls fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him and become his disciples. “Come,” Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Matthew tells us that all four men immediately dropped their nets, left their boats, and followed Jesus, and in that moment, I wondered what Jesus might be asking me to leave behind in order to follow him. My initial response was, “Nothing.” After all, I reasoned last year was my year of leaving things behind.
But, when I heard Jesus’ call to drop my nets, I realized he was asking me to leave my desire for clarity and direction behind. I am called to walk alongside him even if I don’t know where we are going. After all, Jesus didn’t give the disciples any direction when he called them. He didn’t point out which way they were headed. He didn’t offer any clear insights or answers, not even a hint.
This message is excerpted from “Drop your nets,” by Michelle Derusha in the June 2020 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate James, apostle.
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