Life Ministries

Follow - 3
“Ready To Leave Your Net?”
Matthew 4:18-20

“At once, they left their nets, and followed Him”…. How many know there are times, situations, crisis moments, and even people who at times can significantly test our resolve to be devoted followers of Christ?  Following is a cakewalk when He leads us through familiar and comfortable territory, but when following means we have to give up something that is important to us, or changing something we don’t really want to change, or where he is leading goes against our reason, logic, and instinct, we find ourselves at a crossroads with Christ. We tend to put our “followership” on hold, and we soon become “ineffective and unproductive” as Paul puts it, in our knowledge and our walk with Christ. ( 2 Peter 1:5-8 ) 

    Once again, I could use the example from the movie “Indiana Jones”… Indy stands on the edge of a great chasm, and all reason, logic, and natural instincts, tell him if he steps off the edge, he will die. But, when he takes a step of faith, he finds there is an invisible bridge for him to cross over.
    When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John, to follow him, he interrupted their routines; he interrupted their careers; He interrupted the normal, familiar, comfortable, way of life, and made them an unfamiliar offer… “I will make you fishers of men.”
    One thing stood between them and following Jesus. It symbolized their – and our – choice between maintaining status quo or living a life of unconditional following. What was it?  (“at once, they left their nets”) Their nets represent or symbolize anything that inhibits or prohibits our commitment to follow Christ.  I don’t think any of us is exempt from getting ensnared in some kind of “net”…
Net #1 – People.  How can people become a “net”?  ( A friend that lives and plays in paths contrary to the ways of Christ; A person you just don’t want to deal with; or maybe an unforgiven relationship; peer pressure; family – they left their father in the boat…etc.)
Net #2 – Things. Nets can be possessions. A house, a new car, a cottage on the lake…none of which are wrong if rightly gained and loosely held. But, what if they become more important than our financial commitment to the kingdom of God? What if they become a source of pride? What if they become more important than our relationship with Christ? They become nets!
Net #3 – Attitudes. Just about everything concerned with following Christ has to do with attitude and motive. Our attitude may drive our motive; or our motive may affect our attitude, either way, attitudes that are quick to judge, always cynical, always suspicious, or condemning, contradict the very spirit of Christianity. There are many people in the church who get ensnared in the net of attitudes.
Net #4 – Money. Or, perhaps I should say the “love of money”. Some people love to accumulate money; some love to spend it. Most see money as the key to success, significance, and happiness. Yet, money issues are at the core of the breakup of relationships. Whether a partnership; a marriage; an family inheritance; whatever it may be, Jesus knew all about the net of money and he had a lot to say about it. The most prominent being we “can’t serve both money and the Master”… We must either let Him be the Master of our money, or our money will master us… Why do you think they call it “Mastercard”?
Net #5 – Secret sins. There may be a net of sin in our lives that eats away at our soul and hold us back from fully following Christ. This calls for repentance and confession and forgiveness, and in some cases it may even require counseling.
    The point is that Christ calls us to get rid of anything and everything that would stand between us and him. He doesn’t ask for just this piece or that piece of our lives, it’s a total surrender. When we choose not to follow in some area of our lives, when we cling to that net, whatever it may be; when we refuse to drop and leave that net, we are telling Christ where He stands in our life.
    Hearts that are growing in love with Christ will produce hands that are empty of nets. Let’s consider the nets that may be in our lives; the nets that are clinging to, and becoming ensnared and entangled by… and allow Christ to help us drop those nets and follow him.