Called: Leave Your Nets

Mission Adventures Theme for North America 2025

“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Matthew 4:18-22

“Come follow me and I will teach you how to be fishers of men.” Jesus spoke these words to two fishermen, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. The idea of being fishers of men is a very unique idea. The concept of casting out your nets and pulling a living person out of the sea is weird but an intriguing statement. What Jesus was really saying was that these men could do something more with their lives, something of value, something a bit different than their father or grandfathers.

In a world full of confusion and chaos it can be easy to lose sight of who you are and what your purpose is. However, the Bible explains that we are carefully chosen to know God and make Him known. Our identity can only be found in Him. The Lord desires for us to follow Him and learn, so we can then teach this way of life to others. Being in relationship with the Lord is our greatest purpose, and saying yes to His call is our greatest decision. Jesus was calling these men into a new life, a life of value. He wasn’t calling them to do it alone but to walk with Him. Jesus said follow me and I will show you.

The first step of following Jesus is a calculated decision. Do you leave the safety of your job, your home, and your family? We see two verses later Jesus almost identically called out to James and John. Matthew 4:22 says “immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” James and John decided to leave their father Zebedee, a man of influence in their time, in order to pursue this call to follow Jesus.

In our society, if a decision feels unsafe we avoid it, we think it’s wrong or not for us. We are taught to value safety and the comfort it brings. The first disciples Jesus called made a decision that did not value comfort or safety. Each of these disciples was persecuted for their faith, and three of them were killed for it. This decision to follow Jesus was by no means safe, but if you look at their lives it was definitely the right choice.

Peter preached the gospel to the gentiles and the Holy Spirit fell on them. John helped start the church in what would now be modern day Turkey. The course of history was changed because of their response.

What if this invitation to follow Jesus was not just for his disciples, but for you and me as well?

What does it look like to leave your nets and answer the call of discipleship on a daily basis?