Come, follow me...

There he was, Jesus, walking along the sea of Galilee. He spotted two brothers; Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew. A little further along the sea Jesus spotted two more brothers in a boat with their father; James and John. Jesus called to these four men "Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men!" The men dropped their nets, got out of the boat and followed Jesus. Their lives-and indeed their entire existence would never be the same.

But Jesus' call to follow him wasn't for them alone. His call has also come to each one of us. Will you choose to follow him?

As I sit in South Africa in a room of once strangers now called friends I`m excited that each of them chose to take that call. It's easy in the busyness of school, work, friends, and family to ignore the call--to shrug off the claims that Jesus made. But the nature of Jesus' claims and his invitation to "Come, follow me!" demands our full attention.

But following Christ isn't always easy, especially if you aren't fully committed to him. Picture an elaborate house. It is the most beautiful house you can imagine. For me, my house would have a gorgeous swimming pool in the back yard and a tennis court. The inside would have the fluffiest couches and a fridge always stocked with my favorite eats. It would be nice and cool with plenty of blankets for me to snuggle up in. I would have large TV's with movies too numerous to count. And my house would be finished with a wrap around porch and large windows.

Now, say you are my friend. I invite a bunch of people over for a gathering. Some come in and make themselves at home, relaxing on the couch. Some eat the food that I have provided. Others go for a swim, or a round of tennis. But you however, stay on the porch. You are unsure and afraid of entering such a luxurious house. Surely you don't deserve to enter such a beautiful home you tell yourself. I beckon you over and over to enter into my home and take part, but you stay on the porch peering through the window listening to the laughs. You have the head knowledge about the goodness of my home, but you decline the invitation.

I think too many Christians experience Christ this way. You know about him. You know he is good, and almighty and faithful and caring. You know he provides, and performs miracles, and is infinitely sovereign. Yet, when he invites you in--when he invites you to follow him, you respectfully decline because staying on the porch is a safer reality than entering the kingdom. Maybe you don't feel good enough, or strong enough, or worthy enough to enter in. Dear friends, Christ is calling, beckoning, inviting you in off the porch. He is calling you to "Come, Follow Me!" Knowing about Christ and the things of Christ is simply not enough. Just like the four brothers, Christ is inviting you on an adventure that will change your entire existence. All you have to do is get off the security of the porch.

 I`m so thankful I chose to enter in off the porch because I`m starting to believe that when Jesus said "Come, follow me!"....he actually meant it.

Are you on the porch?

The pool in the backyard of my current South African home

 

Part of the backyard of my current host family