Lay Down Your Nets

"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.' Immediately they left their nets and followed Him."(Matthew 4:18-20)

I love this story. I think what I particularly like is the response of Peter and Andrew. They immediately quit what they were doing to follow after the Lord. There is no greater call than the call of Jesus to follow after Him.

People sometimes reject the call of God simply out of unbelief, but often they reject it because they have things in their life that they do not want to lay down. We would rather the call of God come without any expectation. We often want to give lip service only to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9 tells us "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Confessing Jesus as Lord is more than just an intellectual belief. It is a confession of allegiance to Him.

It doesn't mean we are going to get everything just right or never sin or make a mistake. It does mean we ought to want what God wants. If God says something is wrong then it is wrong, regardless of my feelings. If He calls something good it is good. His ways are right and perfect.

A good check on our hearts is to consider what are those things in my life that I would have trouble letting go of if the Lord asked? We create idols so easily. It may be an attitude, a belief that doesn't accord with the Word, or something we are doing. I love the picture of Peter and Andrew. They left their nets. Sometimes we create nets that ensnare us by holding onto things the Lord would have us give up. We need to be like Peter and Andrew and be willing to lay down our nets and follow after Him. It is always worth it. There is no one like Jesus!