By Brandi Hafler
As a child, trips were exciting! We were going to a place we had never been before. There might be boats or animals or caves. I might hear music or see statues, go swimming or climb a mountain. I might ride a train or a roller coaster.
I never chose the destination. I never planned the route. I never drove the car or navigated the plane.
I read or argued with my brother. I sat in the back, napped, listened to music, looked out the window, and enjoyed the ride. Not knowing what was coming made it an adventure.
And I never worried. My parents took care of all of the details. They drove the car, bought the tickets, and planned the meals, and scheduled the activities. I contributed nothing, yet I somehow arrived at my destination. I simply trusted.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20)
Simon and Andrew were adults with families, jobs, and responsibilities. They were fisherman who knew what their lives would hold from day to day. When Jesus found them, they were fishing. If He had passed them by, the next day they would be fishing.
Jesus called them into something new with the words, “Come, follow me… and I will send you out to fish for people.”
He did not tell them where they were going, who they would meet, if it would be fun or hard or scary. He only told them to follow Him.
Simon and Andrew chose to follow Jesus and they watched Him turn water into wine, feed 5,000+ people, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. They saw Him treat people who had been deemed worthless with love and compassion. They watched Him confront religious leaders for neglecting the poor and for worshipping with only their words. They watched Him defeat death. They experienced the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They performed miracles by the Holy Spirit’s power. Their journey was hard, painful, and beautiful.
Twelve years ago, Jesus gave me same invitation. Just like my parents, Jesus knew the destination. He had mapped out the route before I was born. He planned the activities, bought the tickets, knew who we would encounter, and even arranged the meals! He had planned every detail, and tailored them just for me!
Unlike when I was a child, my trip was not marked by trust and excitement. I asked Jesus questions like, "What are Your plans? Where are we going? Who will we meet? Why didn't we go that way? Shouldn't we stop here? What about those people?"
Jesus did not respond with maps and brochures and long descriptions of what we would encounter. He patiently repeated the words, “Follow me.”
Those two words meant more than just, “Keep moving.” He wasn’t ignoring my questions or concerns. When Jesus says, “Follow me,” He is saying, “I know where we are going. I know what is coming. I have already been there, and I am there waiting for you to arrive. I have good plans for you. Trust me.”
Jesus has taken me to places I never imagined that I would go. He has led me to new jobs, new friends, and new countries. However, if He had answered my questions, if I had known where we were going, I might not have followed. If I had known about the hills and valleys that I would have encountered, if I had known about the relationships that I would have lost, or the battles we were going to fight, I might have turned back.
Looking back, I see the journey that I have traveled following Jesus as a miracle that only He could have made happen. My journey has been hard, painful, and beautiful. I am so thankful that I didn’t miss it.
Jesus is looking you in the eye and inviting you on the journey of a lifetime. He has plans that will be hard, but better than anything you could plan or create on your own. His hand is extended to you, and He is saying the words, “Follow me.” What will your answer be?
“At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:20)
—————
Brandi Hafler is a Wesleyan pastor in West Michigan who works to connect people through serving, care and hospitality.
As a child, trips were exciting! We were going to a place we had never been before. There might be boats or animals or caves. I might hear music or see statues, go swimming or climb a mountain. I might ride a train or a roller coaster.
I never chose the destination. I never planned the route. I never drove the car or navigated the plane.
I read or argued with my brother. I sat in the back, napped, listened to music, looked out the window, and enjoyed the ride. Not knowing what was coming made it an adventure.
And I never worried. My parents took care of all of the details. They drove the car, bought the tickets, and planned the meals, and scheduled the activities. I contributed nothing, yet I somehow arrived at my destination. I simply trusted.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20)
Simon and Andrew were adults with families, jobs, and responsibilities. They were fisherman who knew what their lives would hold from day to day. When Jesus found them, they were fishing. If He had passed them by, the next day they would be fishing.
Jesus called them into something new with the words, “Come, follow me… and I will send you out to fish for people.”
He did not tell them where they were going, who they would meet, if it would be fun or hard or scary. He only told them to follow Him.
Simon and Andrew chose to follow Jesus and they watched Him turn water into wine, feed 5,000+ people, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. They saw Him treat people who had been deemed worthless with love and compassion. They watched Him confront religious leaders for neglecting the poor and for worshipping with only their words. They watched Him defeat death. They experienced the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They performed miracles by the Holy Spirit’s power. Their journey was hard, painful, and beautiful.
Twelve years ago, Jesus gave me same invitation. Just like my parents, Jesus knew the destination. He had mapped out the route before I was born. He planned the activities, bought the tickets, knew who we would encounter, and even arranged the meals! He had planned every detail, and tailored them just for me!
Unlike when I was a child, my trip was not marked by trust and excitement. I asked Jesus questions like, "What are Your plans? Where are we going? Who will we meet? Why didn't we go that way? Shouldn't we stop here? What about those people?"
Jesus did not respond with maps and brochures and long descriptions of what we would encounter. He patiently repeated the words, “Follow me.”
Those two words meant more than just, “Keep moving.” He wasn’t ignoring my questions or concerns. When Jesus says, “Follow me,” He is saying, “I know where we are going. I know what is coming. I have already been there, and I am there waiting for you to arrive. I have good plans for you. Trust me.”
Jesus has taken me to places I never imagined that I would go. He has led me to new jobs, new friends, and new countries. However, if He had answered my questions, if I had known where we were going, I might not have followed. If I had known about the hills and valleys that I would have encountered, if I had known about the relationships that I would have lost, or the battles we were going to fight, I might have turned back.
Looking back, I see the journey that I have traveled following Jesus as a miracle that only He could have made happen. My journey has been hard, painful, and beautiful. I am so thankful that I didn’t miss it.
Jesus is looking you in the eye and inviting you on the journey of a lifetime. He has plans that will be hard, but better than anything you could plan or create on your own. His hand is extended to you, and He is saying the words, “Follow me.” What will your answer be?
“At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:20)
—————
Brandi Hafler is a Wesleyan pastor in West Michigan who works to connect people through serving, care and hospitality.
