Forsaking ALL to Follow Him

Mark 1:16-20

16- Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.

Their jobs, how they made their living and supported themselves and their families was by fishing. They were busy with the cares of THIS life. Sometimes we, too, can become caught up in the cares of this life...jobs, responsibilities, friends, school activities, the internet, etc. So many things can take our focus from what it should be.

17- And Jesus said unto them, COME YE AFTER ME, AND I WILL MAKE YOU TO BECOME FISHERS OF MEN.

Jesus spoke to them with authority. He did not pose a question to them, “Will you come after me?” No, He gave them a command when he said, “Come ye after me…” However, the command was followed by a promise; “…and I will make you to become fishers of men.” He did not leave them wondering what their future held. They had the promise that if they followed Him, He would make them fishers of something far better than physical food. How wonderful it is that God saw fit for us to be workers together with Him so that souls could be won to the Lord!

18- And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

It says that straightway they gave up their nets, meaning they immediately did what He asked them to do. Not only that but they “forsook” their nets. They gave up their past, turned their backs on their old way of life in order to follow Jesus. God calls all of us to give up certain things in order to truly follow Him. Are there things in your life that you need to give up that are hindering you from serving the Lord?

19- And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20- And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Have you ever considered why this verse includes the fact that they left their father behind, left their hired servants? They obviously had a family business and maybe they were faring well financially in order to have hired servants. Not only did they leave the comfort and security of all that but they left their father behind as well. Nothing hindered them, though, from leaving their old lives and following Jesus. The Bible is clear that we must forsake all in order to follow Him…we must put God ahead of every other thing that would seem important to us.

Are you putting something ahead of your service to the Lord?

-[Charlotte Dixon]