Matt.4--The Chosen

Here the Bible described Jesus chose the first disciples, they were two sets of brothers…Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. Another set was James and John, sons of Zebedee. How interesting that Jesus chose these two sets of brothers. They were not society’s elite, just ordinary fishermen. Verses 20 and 22, uses “at once” and “immediately” to described their response to the calling. Not sure if they had already heard about Jesus or not, but I was very impressed about this immediate action.

Recently I was recruited to teach a parenting class during church’s annual VBS week. I met some very eager parents and grandparents in the class. Besides sharing the parenting topics, we shared the gospel with them as well. To our surprise, out of 10-12 people in the class, three of them were quick to respond to our invitation to accept Jesus. One was a young mother, she had been searching and felt that the “spirit” has led her to our church and always have the desire to accept “something” that she did not know what. When the gospel was presented to her, she was so ready to accept. She said, “I wanted so badly to believe this, but just didn’t know how.” The second one was a scholar, a research scientist at the University. She said she heard little bit about Christianity while she was in China. When the gospel was presented through our parenting classes, she thought it really makes sense and wanted Jesus to be her Lord. The third lady was a grandmother. She was so frustrated with her rebellious 7 years old granddaughter whom she cared for. She said she is at wit’s end. Wahoo… at this young age? She admitted that she needs Jesus to teach her how, she was eager to look for a church upon her return to China and bring her little one to church and learn how to live a godly life. We are so thankful for this opportunities. I can also see how quickly some responded to our gospel presentation, just like these two sets of brothers, they must heard or witnessed Jesus’s words and action, so when called, they at once or immediately left their nets and boats and followed Jesus.

In a similar thought, when God called us to do something, how fast do we respond? This is a question for you and I to ponder.