I wish to encourage you to gather followers of Christ behind you. I’m intrigued by the simple yet profound way Jesus called His disciples. Take, for example …Simon and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he (Jesus) 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).
These brothers were working their trade, fishing. Jesus walks up, uninvited, and unannounced. The Lord makes no requests, rather, He instructs them to walk away from their business, abandon their source of financial income, and separate themselves from friends and family. The Saviour promised only one thing; He would personally make them fishers of men.
Here we see divine sovereignty intersect with human volition. Should the brothers choose to follow the Messiah, they would be irrevocably transformed into effective fishers of men for their Lord. There would be no half measures in their transformation, no broken apprenticeship contracts, no compromise, no fooling around, and no turning back. No, these men were singled out to fulfil Yahweh’s irresistible grace. Immediately they followed! The rest, as we know, is history, Praise God!
Can you imagine if Simon or Andrew responded by telling Jesus that they were willing to follow Him, but not become fishers of men? Hmmm, I don’t think so! However, many today do precisely that.
With equal authority, Jesus delivered His great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Our Lord is not appealing to our sense of convenience or comfort. No, this instruction serves as a spiritual character identifier for all who have been born again in Christ, for all who would ever genuinely dare to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).
We prove God’s sovereign intervention in our lives when doing what Paul instructed Timothy, by following …the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me (Paul), in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13). The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to follow him, just as he (Paul) was following Jesus Christ. So it is in our lives, we follow the more mature believer’s as they follow Christ. Likewise, we grab hold of others behind us, evangelising, instructing, encouraging, and assisting them to follow Christ as Lord together with us.
Here’s how this looks; whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus… (Colossians 3:17). View your employment, your business, your education, every relationship, every event, every conversation, every activity, including every sporting or leisure activity, as activities to be done on behalf of Jesus Christ and for God’s glory. View the disbelievers in your life as your Lord does. Befriend the unsaved, whoever they may be, live the love of Christ, sowing the light of Christ and the gospel of Jesus as Lord in as many subtle or obvious ways as possible.
- Plead for God’s mercy to work regeneration in the unbelievers of your life.
- Live Christ beloved! Always speak well of the Saviour!
- Patiently and lovingly call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32)
- Be an unashamed reconciliation ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
- Always be thankful to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)