Daily Devotion: Follow Me!

Scripture:
Matthew 4: 18-22

Main Verses:
Matthew 4: 20
So at once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4: 22
They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Observation:
At the beginning of Christ's ministry on earth, he called four fishermen to become his first disciples: Simon, Andrew, James, and John. That day, they were catching fish, but the moment the Lord Jesus called and told them to follow him, they did not hesitate at all. In fact, the first disciples abandoned their nets and their father and followed Jesus "at once" and "immediately."

It is amazing how Jesus chose the first disciples. They were fishermen, meaning they were neither rich nor intelligent but He has called them, chosen, so that when the time comes for Him to go back to the Father, they may continue his work of preaching the Gospel. But what is also important is that the first four disciples had the willingness and desire to leave everything behind so that they can follow Jesus.

Application:
Believe it or not, I am still an avid fan of the phenomenal love team "Aldub." I have been following the chronicles of this love team ever since that fateful day when Maine Mendoza felt "kilig" (an exhilarating romantic experience) the first time Alden Richards smiled at her. Everyone in some part of his or her life is a follower of someone or something. Some die-hard basketball fans watch their favorite basketball team's every single game. Some fans follow their favorite celebrities and go wherever they have a show or a TV guesting, watch every movie they have ever made, and read entertainment news articles related to them. Some collect various memorabilia associated with the person they follow. It is a one in a million chance to be noticed or chosen by our favorite celebrity, basketball player, politician, and so on, and we feel special and honored if we are given this rare opportunity.

Like the first disciples, Jesus also desires that we follow him right away when He calls us. Not everyone is called and chosen (Matthew 22:14), so we should respond to the call without any hesitation and consider it a special and rare privilege. When Jesus tells us "Come, follow me," we should respond at once and immediately say, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you!"

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the opportunity of finding me and knowing you, and for the privilege of following you. I pray that my life may be worthy of my calling. AMEN.