March 8: Following the Call

Scripture
“One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.”
—Matthew 4:18-20 (NLT)

As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, casting their nets into the water. They were fishermen, going about an ordinary day. Then Jesus spoke two simple words that changed everything: “Follow me.” There was no long explanation, no detailed plan for the future. Just an invitation. And remarkably, they left their nets at once and followed Him.

Jesus didn’t simply invite them to believe something about Him. He invited them to follow Him. That is the heart of discipleship. To follow Jesus is to walk in His ways, to learn from Him, and to allow our lives to be shaped by His life. It is not merely agreement with His teaching; it is a relationship that transforms how we live.

Then Jesus added something unexpected: “I will show you how to fish for people.” For fishermen, that language made sense. But Jesus was speaking about something deeper than recruiting followers. He was inviting them to join His mission of restoration. Just as He met people with compassion, truth, and grace, they would now help others discover the life of the Kingdom.

This is still the call today. To follow Jesus is to walk with Him and participate in what He is doing in the world. As John Mark Comer writes, “To be a disciple of Jesus is to order your life around three goals: be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.”¹ The invitation has not changed. Jesus still calls ordinary people to follow Him. The question is whether we are willing to leave our nets and step into the life He offers.

Reflection
1. How do you hear Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” in your own life today?

2. Are there any “nets” in your life that you need to leave behind to follow Jesus more fully?

3. How can you reflect Jesus’ love and truth to those around you in a way that invites them into His life?

Prayer
Ask the Lord to deepen your desire to follow Him closely. Pray for courage to release anything that holds you back. Invite the Holy Spirit to shape your life so that others can see and experience the love of Jesus through you.

Footnote
¹ Comer, John Mark. Practicing the Way. WaterBrook, 2024.