“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Matthew 4:18-25
Jesus was always seeing: individuals, opportunities, needs. And when He saw He spoke with effectual words. He called, He commanded, He promised, He proclaimed the life-changing gospel. When people heard His voice, they responded. They left present occupations, debilitations, afflictions to follow this God-Man. They set aside the former to begin anew- changed, redirected, healed, restored, and they brought others to hear and follow too.
When days start with Jesus, quieting and humbling ourselves before His face, we learn from His eyes on us to be attentive to His voice. We see His nature and ourselves in its light. We see before us as He does, and develop sensitivity to His word for the way ahead. We understand what is vital. His beckon, His whisper, His pledge of transformation and purpose compel us to leave hindrance and preoccupation behind to follow our Savior anew.
The Lord sees our ordinary and breaks in to disrupt status quo and bring about constructive change in a number of ways. He looks on us and knows every circumstance, want, lack, and crack. He speaks into our fears, fruitlessness, and folly and commands us to follow Him. He imbues sanity and strength and makes all things new.
How attentive are our ears and will to Jesus? What prevents our readiness to respond when He beckons? Are there specific hindrances or distractions we should leave behind in order to follow? How will we spread His honor among those we encounter?
“Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of your tone.
As you have sought, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious truths which you impart.
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as you will, and when, and where
Until your blessed face I see,
Your rest, your joy, your glory share.” ~Frances Havergal (1872)
Lord God, may I daily glean from Your countenance and grow forward from Your living word. May the way I follow You exalt and spread Your fame.
As the rain and snow 