Matthew 4:18-22 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.

     Jesus asked Peter and Andrew to follow him because He wanted them to help lead others to the Lord.  They had a successful business in the fishing industry, and were doing very well financially for themselves.  Jesus desired for them to do so much more with their lives than fish for money and worldly possessions.  He wanted them to have the right outlook and become aware of what has real value, winning souls for the Kingdom.

     Jesus desires all of us Christian, born again believers, to win souls for the Kingdom of God.  For no other reason but that He loves people and we are following Him out of obedience.   He loved us didn't He? Can we do no different but follow Him?  Yet how many people who saw and knew Jesus  week after week, and only feed on the Word instead of being obedient?

     In John 1:40-42 Jesus had already talked to Peter and Sinon, so when He asked them to follow Him, they were ready.  They knew fully what they were doing.  Being fishermen in a full business, they knew to count the cost before stepping into a new venture.  They knew that to follow Jesus would change their lives forever, and they were willing to do that.  God wants us all to follow Jesus.

     James, John, Peter and his brother Andrew were the very first apostles to follow Jesus and so we know they were not simply following Him because others were.  They followed Jesus because they desired to follow Him.  These men didn't hesitate, but followed immediately.  They were motivated by what they had seen and heard about this new Messiah called Jesus of Nazareth.

     These disciples didn't become apostles immediately but had to follow and learn all the could about Jesus.  We must do the same, learn all we can so we too can lead people into Salvation through Jesus Christ.  Let's strive to spiritually grow in the Lord's Word and follow His leading as He prompts us to win souls.  It is not just up to the Pastor or the Evangelist like myself, but all of us believers to bring the Good News of Salvation.

Matthew 28:19=20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

     I now say this in all seriousness, that we should be obedient because time is short and we "are" in the last days.  We don't have a lot of time left to fulfill the great commission that Jesus gave to us, so let's be obedient and follow Jesus.  Let's see our brothers and sisters through the eyes of Jesus, full of love and compassion.  Let's give them our hearts and love them enough to win them to the Kingdom.  Go for it, I know you will be glad that you did!

    May the Good Lord bless you and make you happy all the days of your life,
Your Sister in Christ, Evangelist Diana Gray

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