UPSIDE DOWN

Leaving Everything Behind

What is one thing you just had to have?  I can name several things from houses to cars to a shirt or bike.  My list would be really long.  But after a while, that must-have thing was not so important.  And many of those must-haves were given away or trashed.  Sometimes they were worn out.  But I discovered many times that they never had the value to me that I thought they would.

Are you willing to leave it all behind?

Pray:  God, I love You.  Teach me about how your calling to your disciples and how it affects me.

Grab your Bible:  Read Luke 5:1-11.

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. ² He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” ⁶ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! ⁷ A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” ⁹ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.¹⁰ His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” ¹¹ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

We looked at this story the other day.  Peter, James and John were fishermen.  They had a bad night on the job…catching nothing.  Then Jesus came along and told them to put their nets back out.  Then they caught so many the nets began to rip.  Peter was so amazed he fell to his knees and confessed to Jesus that he was a sinful man.

Jesus called the three to follow Him.  Then they left EVERYTHING behind to follow Jesus.  Think about that, they left all their possessions, their tools of the trade, the ways they made money, everything.

Why?

To follow Jesus.

That is a huge change in priorities.  That is a huge life change.  And it was not for a moment or season.  It was for a lifetime.  And they turned their world upside down.

And what is Jesus calling you to do?  Turn the world upside down?

Prayer:  God, You call me to something bigger.  Give me ears to hear Your voice and obey.