Talk Together

Family conversations with God’s Word.

In the game Follow the Leader, do you like to be the leader or a follower? Which do you think is easier?

Games like Follow the Leader have been around for a long time. There is a lot about these games that reminds us of real life. Leading and following are natural actions everyone does in different situations. Think about what it means to set an example. When I read my Bible and pray with you, I am leading you in the ways of the Lord. When you clean up your room without being asked, you are leading your younger siblings (or friends) in the ways of the Lord.

But leading and following are not only natural actions, they are spiritual ones too.

Jesus is the greatest, most important leader the world has ever known. When He started His ministry in Galilee, He called 12 men to leave their homes, their jobs and their families to follow Him. Do you know what those men were called? Yes, they were called disciples. Let’s read about the first disciples of Jesus in Matthew 4:18-20.

ESV

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Here are three things we should pay attention to in this story.

1. The first disciples were brothers. This reminds me that we can follow Jesus and learn His ways together as a family — just like we’re doing right now!

2. When Jesus calls us, He speaks to us in words we can understand. Jesus explained to Peter and Andrew the spiritual action of following Him by talking to them about fishing — the very thing they did every day.

3. We should follow Jesus immediately. Peter and Andrew left everything they knew to follow Jesus, and they obeyed Him right away.

Being Jesus’ disciple is more than just a game of Follow the Leader. It involves obedience, sacrifice and change. Sometimes it’s hard work! But God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. He also places godly men and women in our lives to teach us more about Him and show us how to live. We don’t have to follow Jesus alone!