Men in Ministry Following is Fundamental to Christianity

Matthew 4:18 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. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

The application of the "follow" principle in the Bible is an example or a rule for all Men in Ministry.  The verses in Matthew 4 and repeated in Mark 1 see Jesus calling the Apostles to follow Him.  The calling is part of it maybe the most vital part is the response from the Apostles.

Breaking this down for our life we have to look at the Apostles, what they were doing at the time and how rapidly they responded. The Apostles were busy running their business. These guys were small businessmen. They were fishermen. Peter and Andrew fished for their livelihood. If they did not catch fish, they did not eat. and their families did not eat. 

Jesus called them, in the text it tells us  “At once they left their nets and followed Him. In Mark chapter one, it says in verse 18: “At once they left nets and followed him.” The words are the same so I would deduce that immediately they left their business and followed Jesus. Peter and Andrew dropped everything to follow Jesus.

The Christian principle of following is much like the principle of obedience. Following should be instant, complete and joyful.

The principle of following comes into reality, when we are asked to follow when we do not want to follow. Just like obedience the following principle is most in effect when we do not want to follow or when following creates discomfort.

The Apostles stopped everything they were doing, dropped everything in its place and followed Jesus. Is there a practical application to the "follow" principle? Men in Ministry, the application may be difficult to accept. When our Pastor or a leader designated by the Pastor calls us to do something, remember the Apostles and how they responded.

Men in ministry, if we are going to be men who seek God, then we need to embrace the principles of following and obedience. In both cases, we need to act instantly, joyfully and completely.

Glad Tidings Men in Ministry