Graham was struck this week by the story behind the hymn ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’.
I was reminded of the story of Jesus’ call to the early disciples to ‘Come follow me.’ Matthew gives the account of the call of Simon and Andrew:
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-20
Do you ever wonder what it was about Jesus that made people prepared to give up home and family; livelihood and security to follow him? To be prepared to give up their lives if it came to that.
Cast your mind back to the day that you heard Jesus’ invitation to follow him. What is the story of your faith journey? What has following Jesus cost you? Did you have to make sacrifices to be a follower of Christ? These are precious stories and worth the remembering and retelling. If you are at Emmaus this Sunday maybe we can share them together as an encouragement to one another.
What is it about Jesus that makes you follow him today?
As I read the story of the crucifixion and the sacrifice of Christ; willing to take my place I am amazed. That God should love me so much, unworthy though I am. How should we respond to this amazing love but to give our worship, praise and thanks?
But the call doesn’t stop there. Just as the first disciples were called to be fishers of men so each of us has a call, something only we can accomplish. We may think there is nothing we can do, but that isn’t how Jesus sees us. While we have breath in our body we can share our story with others, we can pray for them to come to know Jesus as their Lord and saviour. And we can support those whose call is to more hazardous places; through prayer or financial giving.
Have you decided to follow Jesus no turning back?
Shalom
Graham and Katy Hill, Local Church Leaders