Following Jesus

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19 (NASB)

Today, as I was driving to the supermarket I was listening to Matthew’s gospel. It is not a deep listen, but still fruitful. It never fails to amaze me how the Spirit can touch the heart in a scripture that is very familiar; that was the case today with these two verses. It is too easy to skip quickly over the story from the well known “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” and onto the ministry that follows. Let us stop for a minute and look at these verses and what is happening by the shoreline.

The Lord was not casually walking by the Sea of Galilee; He was walking with purpose. I believe He knew precisely what was about to happen and who He was going to meet. The fact that He wasn’t walking in a Royal courtyard or a Temple looking for those seen as the great and talented by the world is significant; throughout the Word of God, we find the humble and least likely being called by God. The Lord Jesus was going to recruit fishermen, brothers Peter and Andrew. He chose them because He knew them and that their skills were exactly what was needed – their skills were transferable. Incidentally, in this world, we are often told that our skills are not transferable; but in the Kingdom of God, ALL skills are transferable in the hands of God. There was no great speech or explanation of the terms of employment. He simply called them “Follow Me…” He didn’t say that He would make them evangelists, pastors, or apostles; no, He applied their call to their existing skills, “I will make you fishers of men.”

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NASB)

Dear Reader, the calling of these humble working men with little education or station in society can apply to you today. I know from personal experience; I have seen working-class folk (men and women) used by God in His service. Every time I write on this subject, I remember one old brother from my brethren youth; Geordie* was an old Fife miner whose body suffered from years of work at the pitface. He struggled on two sticks to the assembly every morning and often spoke from the Bible in simple but edifying words; many brethren learned much from Geordie*. So, my friend, no matter what skills you have or don’t have, Jesus can use you today!

*not his real name.