Am I willing to let go of my net?

“Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19.

In the above verse Jesus commands Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him, so that they can be fishers of men. What fascinates me the most about this passage of scripture is the verse that follows Jesus’s commands.  

“At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:20.

To get a deeper look into this verse let’s examine the scene that Matthew 4:18-20:

Peter and Andrew had come to the Sea of Galilee with their own plans and agendas in mind. They had come to fish. The bible says that they were fisherman; this suggests that fishing was something that they did on a daily basis or often. This makes me think of the things that I do on a daily basis? What are those things that define me? I wonder how difficult it may be for me to let go of the things that I do every day, those hobbies that are a part of my daily routine. I’m not saying that these hobbies are bad; I’m just posing the question would I be able to “leave my net” as Peter and Andrew did.

 The bible says that Paul and Andrew left their nets “at once.” It doesn't say that they took time to ponder if following Jesus was something they really wanted to do. They didn't stop to wonder about what they were leaving behind, as they put their nets down. They did not begin to worry about what would happen if they left their old lives behind to do what Jesus was asking them to do. They did not become fearful  or anxious about their future. They did not think about their own agendas and how they would prefer to fish for fish instead of men. They did not once stop to question what Jesus had commanded them to do. The verse simply says “At once they left their nets and followed him.”

As you think about these verses ask yourself. Is there something you know Jesus is asking you to do? Did you do like Paul and Andrew and obey Jesus at once or did you hesitate? Is there something that is holding you back from following God? What is holding you back?

As I was reading this verse the other day, I asked myself the same questions. I thought about some of the things that were holding me back from doing God’s will. Some of these things are probably some of the same things that hold you back, as well. Fear, insecurities, selfishness, not wanting to let go of control, stubbornness, and anxieties are all things that keep us from doing God’s will for our lives. I encourage you to really think about the things that are keeping you from obeying God. Ask God to help you recognize and release those things that are keeping you from doing his will.

For the next few blog entries I plan on exploring the things that keep us from doing God’s will. I will be writing on what the bible says about those hindrances, and how we can combat against them.