Stop what you are doing and follow me.

Have you ever wondered why it is sometimes so hard to follow what you feel God is telling you to do or maybe what God is calling you to do? I definitely think that is one of the hardest things to do.

When Jesus was walking the earth 2000 years ago, it is amazing how fast people would drop what they were doing and just begin to follow him. Just listen to how fast these guys dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus in Mark 1: 16-23.

16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Why were they so eager to follow Jesus? It doesn't make any sense...or does it. If you look at verse 22, it captures exactly why people were so willing to follow him. It all hinges on his authority. Jesus was already an very authoritative figure in his community. The bible states that he started teaching in the temple at 12 years old. And even at 12, the religious leaders were amazed at his teachings. Now with 18 years of experience under his belt, 18 years of teaching in his community, 18 years of a visible sin-less life, 18 years of leadership experience, 18 years of studying, teaching, and learning the scriptures. After all of that, I guarantee that he already had his place of honor in his community. And here is the answer to the mystery of why people would drop everything to follow him. When a man of that type of authority calls you to follow him, it is an absolute honor to do so. It is no surprise that those men dropped everything to follow Jesus. It would be a dream for a man like that to ask you to follow him.

Put it this way. For myself, if the CEO of my company called me into his office and told me, "Matt, I have another position for you. You're a little under qualified, but I know that you can do it. I have been leading this company for 18 years and with all of that experience, I think that you are my guy. Matt, what you are doing now is honorable but the new position I have for you will change your world. And don't worry about anything (money, job security, training, a team) I'll take care of all of that for you." Matt, will you take the position? Will you stop what you are doing and follow me?

Can you imagine, if the CEO of my company had a meeting with me and said all of that? Just imagine with me for a second what I would do. I would drop everything so fast it wouldn't even be funny. Why? Because if a man with that type of authority and experience has that type of faith in me, and believes in me like that, it would be an honor to drop what I was doing and follow his lead.

Now, if all of that is true. How much more should we be willing to follow Jesus. A man who promises to never leave us or forsake us. A man who says "Do not be afraid, for I am with you always" Jeremiah 1:8. A man who says that "Through Him, anything is possible" Philippians 4:13. And on top of that, a man who had no sin, and his followers were amazed at him because of his authority. How much more should we be willing to follow that man? And when we say "No", I wont follow Jesus in that area of my life, we are really saying; Jesus, "I just do see you as having that much authority and Jesus, It doesn't impress me that you would have that type of faith in me because your not that valuable to me and I don't think I am that valuable to you." Truth be told, that is sin and we need to repent.

Question:
1. In what way is Jesus calling you to follow him?
2. Do you see it as an honor that he is calling you to this, or is it a hassle?
3. What is it that you have to drop in order to follow what he is leading you to do?
4. Are you willing to say "Yes" to Jesus?

Join me in my journey of trying to drop everything and following Jesus.