I jumped back into some online journaling of my Bible reading through YouVersion this morning. Thought I'd throw the same content up here.
But maybe not.
What if they were a band of self-serving young bucks who were all too happy to leave the smell and scales of fishing for a little adventure? What if these guys - likely rejects from other rabbis - had a sense of mere value at being chosen by a rabbi, any rabbi? What if they had no idea who Jesus was?
What if these scenes of followership are snapshots of selfishness, rather than selfless denial of a life they loved to follow Jesus?
What's my motivation for following? If I'm honest my past is sprinkled with a lot of selfish reasons for following. Often, I've just wanted to matter. I've wanted to have some value. Too often I've "followed" because I needed others to approve of me. Sometimes I'm sure I've "followed" with my eyes closed, on auto pilot, going through the motions of what I thought was followership.
I see the disciples change their motivation much later in the narratives... when they see Jesus' power; when they reckon with their own commitment to the kingdom of God; when they stare the threat of death and loneliness in the face.
Jesus makes the difference. He becomes the motivation.
I want that motivation. Again. Today.
We're starting a new series at Granger in just a week or so - Sex for Sale. There will be lots of different motivation for people to attend. Many want better sex. Any sex. Some will be married, many will be single. Some will have some sense that honoring God with their lives actually includes their sexuality - tied directly to their sense of worth and the value they see in others.
I'm thinking I don't really care what their motivation is in coming to church. I just don't care. I just want them to come. I want them to show up. I want them to keep "following" - whether or not they know who Jesus is. I'm praying, like happened with those early disciples (and me), that they'll keep taking steps until they experience and marvel at the invitation Jesus offers when he says, "Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men."
And they'll get it. They'll get him.
Recent Comments