Living word for 26-April-2024. Scripture says, “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Today we study the account of some of the disciples on their first encounter or meeting with Jesus so we learn something from it. Remember the theme question fof this series is, “have you met Jesus? Or have you encountered Jesus?. The scripture teaches us in Matthew 4:18-24 that, “While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon (also called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, because they were fishermen.” We are told about two brothers, Simon and his brother Andrew, they were doing what they knew best to do and thats casting their nets into the sea since they were fishermen. Everything seemed the normal trend they usually went through the difference is that Jesus was passing by, walking by the sea of Galilee.

It adds,  “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fishers of people!” So at once they left their nets and followed him.” Jesus’ words were simple and yet they carried such a assignment whose magnitude Simon and Andrew didnt know then. In this encounter Jesus simply told them, “follow me” little did they know that the next chapter of their lives depended on how they would respond to this call to follow Jesus. He spices it by telling, if you follow me then I will make you fishers if people meaning your profession is about to change if you follow me. This is what we have come to learn that after meeting Jesus much of your life is altered and changed. The scripture adds and says immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus, they had never had someone talk to them with this authority and instruction towards them, they obeyed and followed. The next phase of your encounter with Jesus is largely benched on your obedience to his instructions.

It adds, “Going on from there he saw two other brothers—James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets. When he called them.” Along this same season of Galilee he meets two other brothers, this time its James and John. So if Jesus was walking g alone it means Simon and Andrew were now following making three of them. Notice James and John were in the boat with their father mending their nets when Jesus called them. It was much harder for them than Simon and Andrew because they were in this fishing trade with their father and now they had a choice to make instantly of either to follow Jesus or stay with their father. Their was a certain grace that Jesus carried around him that whoever he called immediately followed him. It says, “they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.” They not only left the boat, they left their fishing profession and also left their father, there was no turning back in an instant.

Many of us are guilty of failing to leave our activities in order to follow Jesus. We have not fully understood the person who is calling us to salvation. Simon, Andrew and now James and John understood in an instant, they left their families, left their jobs and followed Jesus full of faith in him. They didnt know a lot the person they were following but they didnt doubt him for a second and look what became of them in the acts of the apostles, scripture says they turned the world upside down. They didnt ask any questions, they simply followed, one encounter with the savior changed their lives.

To proove they had made the correct decision to follow Jesus after their encounter the scripture says, “Then he went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness among the people. His fame spread throughout Syria, and people brought to him everyone who was sick—those afflicted with various diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed—and he healed them.” Even if it were you who was following such a person, performing such undoubtable miracles, I bet you wouldn’t turn back.

Fellow child of God, as a result of one encounter, Simon, Andrew, James and John made the decision to follow Jesus and their lives never remained the same again. The encounter and subsequential following transformed them to become fishers of men like Jesus told Simon and the book of acts is awash with evidence of this effect. Let me ask again, have you met Jesus? The proof of having met Jesus is evidenced from a transformed life.

Be blessed
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