One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers –Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew – throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:18-19 NLT
Matthew, disciple of Jesus, records in his gospel the calling of the first four disciples, and of course was familiar with the calling of the others as they became his colleagues. They were all like that of Peter and Andrew, even his own. Matthew tells his invitation simply, “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”
None of the people Jesus invited to follow him were equipped to be and do all they would need to be and do. They were simple day-laborers and disliked public servants, from different political persuasions, mostly uneducated. But even if they had been well-educated and professional, they would still have been lacking. Jesus was calling them to be His friends, His followers, and His representatives to the entire world. Who could even imagine what that would entail?
Jesus could. He knew that the most important requirement for the outstanding lives they were going to lead was to belong to Him and their partners for ministry, the ones who would be their family in their new life. He had absolutely NO requirements for entry except a commitment to belong. He knew that in the day-to-day living and growing together, they would develop new characteristics and deep understanding. He would teach them and prepare them in community, and they would pass it on. He knew they could not become until they belonged.
It has been true ever since Jesus came. His invitation is open to everyone. “Come! Follow me! No restrictions, no qualifications required. Come and be with me. Belong.” The moment you get up and leave your old priority to make your priority following Jesus, you belong. You belong with all of God’s people from the beginning, and specifically here and now, you belong to the family of God, the Church. This is the Church around the world. In the most practical, beneficial way, you belong to your local church family. In this community God will primarily help you become all He has dreamed and planned for you.
If you haven’t taken the step to follow Jesus and belong to His family, do that now. It’s the wisest, most fulfilling choice you can make. Don’t worry about any lack or issues in your life. You can belong just as you are. Then, make a commitment to stick with a local church so God can work through the people there to help Him love you into becoming all you can be. You never outgrow your need for Jesus and His people.
- Accept the invitation. With Jesus, the best is always yet to be.