Don’t Just Mend Your Net

Matthew 4:21-22 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

When I was a senior in high school, like many others, I struggled with where I should go to college.
I knew that I wanted a four year degree, but I also knew that I wasn’t ready to leave home.

So, I ended up attending a technical college for a year with a plan to go a second year as well.
As the end of my first year came, I began to believe that God wanted me out of the house and into the 4 year school I had chosen.

To be honest, I didn’t care much…
I wasn’t ready to leave home.

During the summer of that year, a lady from my church came up to me and said,
“Jonathan, I appreciate all you do here, but I really believe it’s time for you to go away and learn how to do it even better.”

WOW!

I knew what I had to do.
God had spoken it to me, now He used someone else to confirm it.

You see, I knew what I was doing wasn’t what God had for me.
I knew that even though I was planning on going and becoming a pastor,
I wasn’t exactly where God wanted me.

James and John had the same kind of experience in this passage…

They were doing what they always did.
Hanging out with their Pops, doing the family business.

BUT,

Notice that they were trying to mend their nets.
Some translations say “Preparing their nets.”

Something just wasn’t quite right about where they were and what they were doing.
They were prepared for something different.

What they were doing wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t godly.
It was mediocre, not miraculous.
It was a living, but not really LIVING.

So, Jesus called…
And they answered.

They were willing to leave everything they knew.
Everything they were comfortable with.

If you feel like something isn’t quite right about where you are,
no matter how “good” or “acceptable” it may be,
seek God.

We usually know what His calling is and why we feel a little uneasy about what we’re doing.

We just have to do it.
We have to quit doubting it’s really Him speaking and do what He called and equipped us to do.

I’m glad I did.
I met my wife at the 4 year University.
I graduated.
I was prepared  for God’s next place.

Don’t just sit around mending your net…

Obey the call.
Follow Christ.


Comments

15 responses to “Don’t Just Mend Your Net”

  1. Good stuff, as usual, Jonathan! Happy Monday!!!

  2. Sometimes we focus so much on our weakness and on our own ability (or lack of) that we fear dropping those nets so that we can follow Him. Good challenge and something I needed to hear today! Thanks Bro’

    “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.” Mother Teresa

    1. Glad it spoke bro! Have a great week!

  3. Mom Avatar
    Mom

    And let me tell you something, that was one of the hardest things I have ever done, leaving my baby 3 hours away from home but I am glad you did it too. Not only were you pursuing God’s calling for your life but you gave us a wonderful daughter-in-law. Have a great day!

    1. Thanks Mom! Love you.

  4. april hawkins Avatar
    april hawkins

    I really enjoyed reading this blog. I am going to pass it on to my son who is trying to make it out in the big world now. it is hard to leave our comfort zones and do what God calls us to do but so many blessings fall into place when we acknowledge the call. Thanks for sharing. aprilhawk.wordpress.com

    1. I hope it helps him! Thanks for commenting and for the link!

  5. Awesome word and presentation today…

    It’s not about living… making do.
    It’s about Living! Which we can only do when we are in Him.

  6. Man…this was good bro.

    It’s about fulfilling our calling to Him.

  7. I’ve been there too, Jonathan, and I can testify that the safety of familiar or security is no match for the blessings that flow from obedience to God and trusting Him for the means.

    1. Very well put bro!

  8. This is awesome Jonathan! Seriously so good. If you aren’t living an exception a life, you are cheapening what He died for.

    Great encouraging word!

    1. Amen! Thanks man!

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