“Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”  Mark 1:17

“Come, follow me…”

Jesus gives an invitation, not a command, to become his followers.  A request, but also a clear call.  God has issued the call to ‘Come follow me’ from the beginning of time.  He sent patriarchs, kings, prophets, and judges to invite anyone who would follow him.  Finally, God’s own son issued the call to men who became his partners in the greatest task the world would ever see.

“…and I will make you…”

Along with the call came preparation.  Jesus called them and then he completely reinvented their lives.  They would never be the same.  One went to his death, a traitor.  Twelve others died for Him.  He took men who were engaged in their own lives and businesses to redirect their energy into an eternal purpose.  Jesus was the potter and he fashioned men who would change the world with their testimony.

“…fishers of men.”

Jesus had a clear plan.  He would invest in their lives and in turn, they would invest in the lives of others as Jesus had invested in them.  Their witness, their words, and their deeds told the story of Jesus in a way that ‘caught’ others who were willing to answer the call as well. And many generations later, men and women still give their lives for the cause of Christ.

This pattern of call, preparation, and a clear plan continues today.  Jesus is still calling us and we who follow still allow him to re-make our lives and prepare us for that great task that will not be finished until He comes again.

As we remember the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, I hope we can all celebrate the fact that Jesus is still intimately involved in the lives of his followers.  He uses the circumstances of our lives, others who come along side us, and his Holy Spirit who dwells within us to make us what he wants us to be.   His call, his hand on us, and his purpose should bring us great joy.

“I will instruct you in and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Psalm 32:8