Matthew 4: First Steps (3)
Pray Psalm 42.1-3.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
Sing joyfully Psalm 42.1-3.
(Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
As the deer pants for fresh water let my soul, LORD, pant for You!
Let my soul thirst as it ought to for the Savior, ever true!
Tears by day have been my portion, tears by night have been my food,
While my foes add to my sorrow, saying, “Where now is your God?”
Read Matthew 4.1-20; meditate on verses 18-20.
What does it mean to “follow” Jesus?
Prepare.
1. Who were the first disciples? What was their occupation?
2. What did Jesus promise in calling them?
Meditate.
There’s an old saying that goes, “If you have to swallow a frog, don’t spend too much time looking at it. If you have to swallow a lot of frogs, start with the big one.” This is what we see Jesus doing in these first twenty verses of Matthew 4. Having swallowed the big frog by defeating the devil, He now takes up the next frogs: winning disciples.
Peter and Andrew were not the sort of people one might select to begin a world-changing movement. Neither are you or I. But Jesus knew what He was doing with them, and He knows what He’s doing with us. He is working in us to make us “fishers of men.” Peter and Andrew seized on that image, although they could not possibly have understood what it meant. Like them, we are called to be fishers of men, to reach the souls of people—lost and saved—and point them to Jesus. If we can help people to see Jesus, like Peter and Andrew did, He’ll take it from there.
These men were so compelled by Jesus’ call that they left their work and went after Him. This was not their first encounter with Jesus (cf. Jn. 1.40-42), and it would not be the decisive one for Peter (cf. Lk. 5.1-8). But Matthew wants us to understand that following Jesus means being willing to surrender everything for the sake of taking up His calling and agenda.
We’re not all called to leave our occupations, families, or settled way of life. But we are all called to follow Jesus, and to reach out to the souls of people around us with the Good News of His Kingdom and righteousness. Most of us will fulfill our calling in whatever may be our work. Others will be called like Peter and Andrew to a new work in which to fulfill their calling to follow Jesus.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Whether “we fulfill our calling in whatever may be our work; or we are called to a new work to fulfill our calling”, either way, we are commanded to Follow Jesus. Regardless, our walk as Christians is the primary focus and purpose of our lives and is not a small addition to whatever it is that we are already doing.
Following Jesus is a total mindset change. It is what we do. It is who we are. It is why we are.
“They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matt. 4.20).
The transitive verb follow means to come or go after; proceed behind; to go after in pursuit.
It also means to keep under surveillance. We understand that this means to keep an eye on, perhaps to catch out some criminal in the act of “criminalling”. But, when you think about it, this is exactly what we are to do with Jesus, only in a good way. To keep Him under surveillance so that we will become like Him.
“Follow Me” Jesus says to us. Pursue Me. Keep Me always in your thoughts. Surveil Me.
“Come to Me…learn from Me…find rest for your souls…” (Matt. 11.28, 29).
Instead of doing this, too many merely tack on a tiny bit of Jesus to their already satisfactory lives, claiming the benefit of salvation there and then, while missing the part altogether about following Him moment by moment, day by day, here and now.
And the truth is, we can fool our neighbors, our fellow church friends, our pastors, and maybe even our family, but we cannot fool God. He knows where our affections lay, for He can see straight into our hearts.
And if what He sees does not please Him, we can expect a reaction:
“Who can stand before His indignation?
And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?
His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him” (Nah. 1.6).
Then we remember repentance! And when we do so, immediately, what can we expect then?
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him” (Nah. 1.7).
To follow Jesus means we love Him enough to always do His will.
It is how He knows that we are following.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (Jn. 14.15; 15.14).
Following Jesus is all encompassing…all consuming…all desiring…all in all.
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk. 8.34).
All else, then, are the nets left.
Reflect.
1. What did you have to leave behind to follow Jesus?
2. How would you explain to a non-Christian friend what it means to follow Jesus?
3. How can believers encourage one another in following Jesus?
So the Lord chose fishermen who in a better way of plying their fishing trade were converted from earthly to heavenly fishing, that they might catch the human race for salvation like fish from the deep waters of error, according to what the Lord himself said to them: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Chromatius (fl. 400), Tractate on Matthew 16.2
Pray Psalm 42.4-11.
In times like these, it can be easy for our souls to be cast down. Look to Jesus, and call on Him. Let His Word, like the sound of mighty waves and billows, surround, buoy, and protect you for the day ahead.
Sing Psalm 42.4-11.
Psalm 42.4-11 (Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
Now I pour my soul out in me as these thoughts come to my mind.
And I long to once again be where true worship I might find.
Oh my soul, be not despairing! Hope in God, and praise His Name!
For the LORD, your burden bearing, will restore your peace again.
Oh my God, my soul is weary, therefore I remember You.
Let Your grace and goodness near be, and Your promise, firm and true.
LORD, when trials and fears surround me, Your commands will be my song;
When distresses sore confound me, Your great love will keep me strong.
LORD, forget me not in mourning ‘neath my foes’ oppressing hand.
See their mocking, hear their scorning; help my weary soul to stand.
Hope in God, praise Him forever when despair on you has trod.
Look to Jesus; never, never doubt your gracious, saving God.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from If Men Will Pray. Our Crosfigell teaching letter has begun a new series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church and why we need it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
