Matthew 4:19-20 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

This is a justly famous passage. Jesus started with where these men were, as fishermen, and related it to the higher calling of drawing people into the kingdom of God. It is also of great importance that Peter and Andrew were obedient to the call, as were James and John a couple of verses later. It is important to remember that this wasn’t their first encounter with Jesus. John and Andrew had been disciples of John the Baptist, and Andrew had famously brought his brother Peter to Jesus. (John 1:35-42) However, this was obviously the decisive moment, because this is how it is recorded in Mark, which is universally regarded as Peter’s recollections, recorded by Mark. The point is, there has to be a clear-cut decision to follow Christ. As steeped in the Bible and faith as I was from infancy, I still remember pretty clearly the point at which I went to my parents and declared that I wanted to be baptized, to commit myself as a follower of Christ, even though I was just seven years old. I’m not proud to say how much I wandered from that commitment in the years that followed, but God in His amazing grace tapped me on the shoulder in 1972, and when I turned around, He had a mirror, to show me my pride and allow me to repent. That too was a clear-cut decision, and there have been many more in the years since. God does not force us to follow Him, but He gives us the opportunity to respond to His call. Many today are afraid of commitment. That is most often noted in relation to marriage, but it applies to salvation as well.

As a pastor, calling people to commitment is obviously right at the top of my priorities. However, I have to remember that, just as this wasn’t Peter and Andrew’s first encounter with Jesus, people need a foundation to be able to make the commitment to follow Christ. I am not to slight “pre-evangelism” but I must not fail to give the call to commitment. That can be a difficult balance, particularly in Japan. Some people are alienated by over-zealous evangelists, and many pastors essentially fail to call to commitment. With church rolls as small as they are, pastors are afraid to alienate anyone, and so they fail to exhort and admonish. I certainly don’t do it right every time myself! I need to focus on constant obedience to the Holy Spirit, because each individual is different, and there is no formula that will work with everyone. I certainly don’t have the wisdom or analytical powers to do it right on my own, so once again I am reminded of my dependence on God. However, my commitment to obedience must be kept fresh, or I won’t be able to hear and follow.

Father, thank You for yet another reminder of my dependence on You. I certainly have trouble releasing things to you! Thank You for Your patience with me on every level. Help me be patient with those around me, without using “patience” as an excuse not to call them to the commitment that will bring them the fulness of all that You have provided for them in Christ, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!