It was just another ordinary day on the Sea of Galilee. Fishermen were casting and repairing their nets, doing what they had always done, hoping for a good catch. Nothing about this day seemed remarkable—until Jesus showed up.

Walking along the shore, Jesus didn’t simply pass by; he interrupted an ordinary day with an extraordinary invitation: “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people” (4:19). Using the very skills they already had, Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew into the mission of expanding the kingdom of God. Immediately, without hesitation, they left their nets and followed him.

A little farther down the shore, Jesus does the same with two other brothers, James and John. They, too, say yes, leaving everything behind.

Have you ever wondered, while reading this passage of Scripture, what it might have been like if they had said no?

Not today, Jesus.

We’re too busy.

Could you maybe come back when life settles down?

Jesus, are you sure you are calling me? You want me? I’m just a fisherman trying to get by, make ends meet.

But that’s not how they respond. They immediately answer, “Yes!”

So let me ask you: As we dig into God’s word and invite it to radically transform our hearts, minds, and souls, why do we so often do the very opposite? We hesitate. We question the call. We doubt ourselves as if we are not good enough to be invited into his mission. It’s as if we somehow believe that Jesus doesn’t know what he is getting himself into by extending the invitation to “come, follow me” (4:19).

Church, Jesus Christ is calling you. He is inviting you into his mission.

You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t need to have all the answers or the right gift to share God’s love with those around you. What this passage of Scripture points us to again and again is trust, humility, a willingness to say yes. Jesus is and will always meet you right where you are, just as he met those fishermen.

Jesus doesn’t call the equipped; he equips the called. He is inviting you into something extraordinary.   

How will you respond?

Reflection:

  • What are the nets in your life right now—your fears, distractions, or unhealthy habits—that make it hard for you to fully say yes to Jesus?
  • In what areas of your life do you most often feel hesitant or doubt where Jesus is calling you?
  • What gifts, abilities, or life experiences has God given you? How might God be inviting you to use one of those this week to share his love with others at home, at work, at church, or in your community?