Leave Your Nets, Follow Him

I was searching through the storeroom for a new set of whiteboard markers when I stumbled across a box marked "5 &1\4 Diskettes." I thought, "Surely not, we haven't used that type of diskette in several years." But sure enough, when I opened the box, it was full of brand new, never been used, 5 &1\4 Diskettes. When formatted correctly, they could hold 360KB of information! I laughed as I thought about how the large files I create would quickly fill up these old diskettes. Sometimes old tools and old methods of doing things are no longer adequate for the new tasks we must accomplish.

"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 make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him." Matthew 4:18-20 (NIV)

"... they left their nets..."
The nets that had provided their income, their means of support, their financial security.
The nets they had used since childhood. These nets felt comfortable in their hands. They knew how to use these nets. They knew their touch and feel. They felt at home when they held these nets.
The nets that had defined who they were in their community, "For they were fishermen." They had a role, a status, a purpose: they were fishermen.

But at the call of Jesus, they left their nets, at once. They did not take the time to store the nets, so that they might be available for later use. Something in the voice of Christ told them they would never need the nets again. They did not take the time to sell the nets to help provide for their new ministry. They saw in the eyes of Christ a confidence that assured them: He would be their provision. They did not try to bring the nets along. Something in the call of Christ said their new task would require new tools. It was time to leave the nets behind.

"They left their nets and followed Him."

Christ still calls people today to follow Him. As a believer, Christ has called you. Where are your nets? Have you left them in the sand, or have you decided to bring them along?

Are you lugging around the nets of provision, trusting in your own ability to provide for your daily needs?
Are you dragging along the nets of talents, offering your skills, when Christ wants your heart?
Are you still holding on to the status that your nets once provided, the nets that defined who you were before Christ said, "Come, Follow Me?"

Nets can be heavy, can't they?

It's hard to carry the Bread of Life when your hands are holding old nets.
It's hard to "Go into the all the world," when your feet are tangled in old nets.

"At once they left their nets and followed Him."

Leave your nets. Follow Him.

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