Follow The Leader

Mark 1:16-18 – As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. (NIV)

One of the schoolyard games I remember playing in my childhood was "Simon Says". In the game, one player was appointed Simon, the leader, and the object of the game was to catch a player following an instruction that wasn't prefaced with the words, "Simon says".

In today's Bible verse, the story of Jesus meeting with Simon reminds me of that game. Simon and his brother, Andrew, were catching fish for food, when Jesus walked along by the shore, and noticed the two brothers casting their nets into the lake. He stopped to watch. Then, unlike the game of "Simon Says", where Simon gives the instructions, in the Bible story, Jesus was the leader and he invited the fishermen to "Come, follow me." At once, Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus.

Today, this same Jesus is watching each of us, as we go about our work and daily activities. And, as the leader, his words to us are the same as they were to Simon and Andrew: "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Prayer: Dear God, help us, as Christians, to make it a daily practice to follow You. Direct us to the people in the world around us, who need to hear the gospel, Your voice, and Your invitation to follow Christ. Amen.

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