Today's theme is not just for the week, but for the year: we have two phrases from Jesus that we will be applying. One is his call to “come, follow me,” familiar to those who have lived in Christian circles and walked the Christian walk. The other is Jesus saying “come… learn from me,” reflecting that he has something to teach us similar to what he commanded his first disciples.
These teachings are what he instructed those initial disciples to pass down to the next generation as they went from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. This desire to learn from Jesus pops up at the beginning of his discourse known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). There, Jesus sits down and his disciples come to him and he begins to teach them.
We will spend this upcoming year focusing on the teachings of Jesus that come out of that Sermon. This backdrop will allow us to work through the entire gospel of Matthew, fleshing out this invitation to follow Jesus that results in a call to make disciples of all nations.
Read: verses 8-11 twice.
Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to come and sit at your feet like Mary did, to learn from you like the disciples did, to follow you like the apostles did. I want to taste and see your goodness. I’m coming Jesus! Lead me!
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Looking in on John 6, we see Jesus declare this about God’s mission and his role in it: “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (6:38-40)
Earlier in this section of his teaching Jesus says that whoever comes he will not drive away (John 6:37). I hope that as his church, as his followers, we can present a similar attitude to the world – driving no one away and always willing to do whatever our Father in Heaven seeks from us. Let us all look to Jesus, the Son, and find life yes – but also a way of life to be lived as his followers.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
Thank God for Jesus as the Bread of Life, as the source of life, and as an example for how to live. Pray that among all the events and people clamoring for your attention, that you keep your eyes looking to Jesus, that you pursue God daily, that you continue to come to him for life.
Every Wednesday highlights part of who we are as God’s children. Jesus invites us into a world that Peter describes as “participating in Divine nature” and “escaping the corruption in this world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). Elsewhere, he describes the evil spiritual realm as warring against your soul (1 Peter 2:11). Jesus has much to teach us, and seeks to draw us to himself that might learn from him how to live and live well.
In Christ, I am called and accepted, making me a disciple who is following and learning from Jesus.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word.
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of all the things that Jesus taught. Consider tying it to Matthew 28:19-20 where the first disciples were told to go and make disciples who have been taught all that he had commanded...
Called to Follow Jesus
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
I acknowledge that the discipleship covenant is not so much with Hope as a church or with its pastor, but primarily with Jesus and his rightful calling on my life. I fully understand that although this may not be taught or expected at every church (be it Lutheran or otherwise), it is biblical and in accord with the will of Jesus for ME as HIS DISCIPLE. Having counted the cost of discipleship, I want to follow Jesus and join him on his mission of making disciples.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise.
Lord God, In view of your mercy, I offer my body as a living sacrifice, an act of worship — may it be holy and pleasing. Transform me by renewing my mind that I will be able to test and approve what Your good, pleasing, and perfect will is. (adapted from Romans 12:1-2)
Read this section of God’s Word multiple times, looking through a different “lens” each time:
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways, the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not
return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and
flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return
to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve
the purpose for which I sent it.
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
Spirit of God, teach me – and teach me to come to Jesus and the Father every day, day and night. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
A note about Stories: Telling Bible stories (storying) is one of the simplest ways to share God's Word -- and we can all tell stories. Most people remember stories better than mere details, both in terms of speaking and listening. Storying does not require one to remember all of the particulars to be effective. The Holy Spirit is quite capable of using us and his Word without direct quotes or perfect reciting of all details.
Today’s story begins a life-long journey for Peter and Andrew, for James and John. It may be good to go back into your own memory banks and share with the Lord his calling on your life: the whens and wheres, the hows and through whoms.
Here are some thoughts on Jesus’ calling us to come – to come and follow, to come and learn. Keep these ideas in mind as you ponder these scriptures:
Ask God to bless the early part of the new year with you able to focus on him first. Ask that he would take or maintain the central part of your heart, your agenda, your schedule, your energy and relationships.
Any insights you share are helpful as we carry out our mission of building discipleship resources that God can use to strengthen us to “make disciples who make disciples”, the vision of our church.
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Dear Lord,
I am providing these comments about the website and devotion to increase your greater glory.
Amen.