Day 9 — Follow Me

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed Him.”

— Mark 1:16–18 (BSB)

Simon and his brother Andrew were ordinary fishermen. They got up early, threw their nets into the Sea of Galilee and hauled in fish to sell. It was hard, smelly work. They probably expected to do it for the rest of their lives, just like their fathers had.

Then one day, Jesus walked along the shore and said two words that changed everything: “Follow Me.”

Notice who Jesus chose. He didn’t go to the best schools to find the smartest students. He didn’t go to the palace to find important leaders. He went to the beach and called fishermen. Later He would call a tax collector, someone most people hated. Jesus chose ordinary people, with all their mistakes, and turned them into world-changers.

Jesus also made them a promise: “I will make you fishers of men.” They knew how to catch fish. Now Jesus would teach them to bring people to God. Notice who does the work: “I will make you.” They didn’t have to figure it out on their own. Jesus would train them.

And look at how they answered: “At once they left their nets and followed Him.” They didn’t say, “Let me think about it for a few years.” They didn’t say, “Maybe after I’m done fishing.” They went right away.

Following Jesus is more than believing true things about Him. It means going where He goes, learning from Him, and letting Him change you. That’s what a disciple is: someone who follows a teacher so closely that they become like him.

Jesus still says, “Follow Me,” today. He says it to kids too. You don’t need to leave your family or your school to follow Him. But you might need to leave some “nets” behind: habits, attitudes or things that keep you from Him.

Simon, later called Peter, would go on to tell thousands of people about Jesus. And it all started with two words by a lake.

Think about it: What might be a “net” you need to leave behind to follow Jesus more closely?

Try this: Ask Jesus today, “What do You want me to do?” Then listen, and do the first thing that comes to mind that you know would please Him.

Dear Jesus, You called ordinary fishermen to follow You, and You call me too. I want to follow You. Help me leave behind anything that gets in the way. Make me into the person You want me to be. In Your name, Amen.