PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I work from home and spend a lot of time in my office. My husband is well-accustomed to getting the response, “Just a moment,” when he stops in my office doorway to tell me something or ask a question. He now has a special sing-songy voice for the phrase that is reminiscent of a 1950s telephone operator.
Whether you’re self-employed or not… whether you work from home or not… we all have things that we tend to zero in on with hyperfocus, to the point where everything else can wait “just a moment.” Maybe it’s a special project. Or a book. Or a game. Or social media. We all get tunnel vision and some of us are more prone to it than others (Eh-hem. I may or may not be, but probably am, referring to myself here.)
In Matthew 4:18, Jesus recruited His first disciples—Peter and Andrew. In verses 19-20, it says, “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him” (ESV). Then, Jesus recruited Disciples #3 and 4 (James and John) in a similar fashion. Verse 22 says, “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him” (ESV).
So four guys in the span of five verses dropped what they were doing, including their livelihood, to follow Jesus. There was no “just a moment” moment for them. The Bible makes no mention of hesitation or reservation by any of them. To my multitasking brain with a mile-long to-do list, I think that’s incredible. To have gotten one is impressive but four…
Nothing I’m writing today is new or original. Many who are far more articulate than I am and who have way more knowledge than I do have addressed this. There are countless pages of words that offer commentary and perspective on the immediate willingness of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to stop and follow Jesus.
But knowing something and pondering something are two different things. That’s what I’m bringing to the table today. A pause. To stop for that moment that is always “just.” And reflect on the courage, faith, and gumption it took for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to walk away from what they knew to follow Jesus.
It was a bold move and it’s what we are all called to do. We are invited to follow Him, but I admit, I tend to be more like the disciple from Matthew 8:21—“Another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father’” (ESV).
I’m guilty of saying to Jesus, “I want to follow you, but ‘just a moment.’”
We can take this example of immediate response vs. “just a moment,” all the way back to Cain and Abel. Abel offered God his best and first. Cain offered Him what was left (Genesis 4:1-5).
When it comes to following Jesus, are we giving Him our first and best? Our unhesitating and immediate willingness? Or are we asking Him to wait until we’re ready to give Him what’s left of ourselves after we’ve addressed everything else we deem important?
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus that we can look to these disciples as courageous examples of what it means to follow Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a heart that’s willing to stop and follow. Ask Him to help you resist the temptation to tell Jesus “just a moment.”
