Daily Devotionals

A Time for Change: Friday

"And they left their nets at once and followed him." Mark 1:18

If you are a parent, you likely find yourself repeating instructions to your children throughout the day. No doubt, you particularly have to repeat instructions about cleaning up and doing homework. While you want your children to obey immediately, immediate obedience is likely rare. As human beings, we are tempted to push back on hard instructions and ask questions rather than immediately obey. This understanding is why the disciple's response when Jesus called them to follow Him is particularly remarkable. When He called them to leave their lives and families behind, they immediately obeyed Jesus.

Mark 1 describes the response of Jesus' disciples when He gave them the command "follow me" (verse 17). When He called the first disciples, Peter and Andrew, "they left their nets at once and followed Him" (verse 18). The next two disciples Jesus called, James and John, that Jesus called did the same thing. They were fishing in a boat with their father, and when Jesus called them to follow Him, they left their father in the boat and followed Jesus. Many of us are so familiar with this story of Jesus calling the first disciples that we miss the remarkable obedience that they showed. They did not ask questions. They did not ask to return home to take care of things first. They just obeyed and followed. 

Jesus was looking for radical obedience when He called His disciples, and He is also looking for radical obedience today. He is looking for immediate obedience rooted in trust in Him when He gives us instructions. One place we can see His instructions is in Scripture. The question is, do we obey? Do we demonstrate the same kind of radical obedience of these disciples? When we do, we will always be grateful that we chose obedience every time.

Moving toward action

Is there a command in Scripture you have not been obeying? What is it? From the seemingly small to the seemingly large instructions, God cares about our obedience in every area. Whatever area you have been holding back regarding obedience, choose to immediately and radically obey Jesus today. You never know how your obedience may impact your life and the lives of others around you.

Going Deeper

Mark 1:29-45 (NLT)

" After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew's home. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37 When they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you."

38 But Jesus replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came." 39 So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him."