City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁹ And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].

–Matthew 4:19-20 AMP

¹⁰ Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another. ¹¹ Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him.

–Romans 12:10-11 TPT

Aisha’s Analysis

Following Jesus may not always be easy, but it leads to a life fulfilled with deep satisfaction and others blessed. The scriptures above paint a beautiful picture of lives transformed, identity fully realized, and God’s purposes played out as a result of following Jesus. 

Let’s take Peter and Andrew as a case in point. These guys were a little rough around the edges. They were fishermen. While Jesus calls them to follow Him, He assures them He will make them fishers of men. What a wonderful illustration of how God uses our humble beginnings to accomplish His purposes.

Jesus built a community with a missional mindset. He called Peter and Andrew out of a former way of thinking and being, and elevated them to a higher level. He wanted them to see themselves in the capacity that God wanted to work through them–as fishers of men. 

Being a follower of Jesus at that time, while an honor, was also very controversial. The disciples had to leave behind their former way of life and step out into the unknown. The only assurance they had was their relationship with Jesus. 

Similarly, we as followers of Christ, are called upon to leave everything behind to follow Him. It is in following Jesus and trusting Him day-by-day/moment-by-moment, that we are transformed into who He is calling us to be. And it is only by being transformed through our relationship with Jesus that we can ever develop the capacity to fulfill His will, His purposes, His cause.

Application

Are you trying to fight for a “cause” of God without being in relationship with God? Impossible! As much as we like to believe in our own human efforts, they can only get us so far. Peter and Andrew labored in vain during a long, hard night with no fish until they encountered Jesus and obeyed Him. Once Jesus entered their lives, everything changed. 

Likewise, your life can only be transformed by following Jesus. When you do, the people around you will also receive a spillover of blessings in their own lives. Therefore, living for God’s cause starts and ends with following Jesus. You do that, and you’ll never be the same. 

What does following Jesus look like for you today? Turn your gaze toward Him and may each step you take bring you closer and closer to the One who transforms us to bring His purposes to pass. 

Prayer

Father God, thank You so much for working with me to bring Your Kingdom to earth. Because of You, I am being transformed more and more into who You are calling me to be. May I never lose sight of the importance of following Jesus. You’re worth leaving everything behind because now You are my everything, and You’re so much better! May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. May Your purpose be fulfilled in and through me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.