[Who's your One? Series] On Earth, As It Is In HeavenSample

Follow Me, then Fish

Our primary calling is to be with Him. Jesus called His disciples to follow Him first. Following comes before fishing. Abiding comes before serving. Jesus calls us to learn from Him—by being with Him. As a servant of God, being a pastor is an enormous responsibility, yet it is not my primary calling. Allow me to share my mission statement with you:

“My call is to follow Christ. Ministry is an overflow of my walk.” 

Following Christ is the primary call of our lives. Everything we are and everything we do comes from the overflow of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to be with us; that is the main reason why He calls us to be part of His family. He wants to spend time with us; He wants us to share our ups and downs with Him. He wants us to be with Him so that we can get to know Him.

Let me put it this way: You cannot introduce someone to somebody unless you already know that person in the first place. It would be impossible for us to introduce Jesus to somebody if we do not know Jesus as our beloved friend. When you know someone, and you cherish and enjoy spending time with that person, then, as a result, you are eager to introduce your friend to the rest of your friends. You trust this person, you know this person, you love spending time with this person, and at some point, you know that your friendship with this person will be something that the rest of your friends will also learn to cherish and value. 

For this reason, Jesus called His disciples to follow Him first. Follow before you fish. If you are not enjoying your friendship with the Lord, if your relationship with Jesus is not one that you can describe as close and intimate, then get to know Him first.

Ask yourself this question, “Am I really following Jesus? Is my relationship with Him my primary calling?” Time and trust are the two main factors that are required in any relationship. You will not get to know a person unless you spend time with them. 

When you get to know how beautiful, loving, merciful, kind, and patient our Lord is, you will want to spend more time with Him. This relationship fuels you, enriches you, changes you, and just makes you want more of Him. 

Today, Jesus is saying to us, “Abide in me, I want you to be mine. I want your undivided attention 24/7. You cannot become a fisher of men if you do not enjoy being with me and learning from me. Follow me, then fish.”