This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Simply Following Jesus.
"And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him."
— Luke 5:11 (BSB)
When Peter, Andrew, James, and John walked away from their fishing nets on the shores of Galilee, they didn't enroll in a formal seminary. Jesus didn't hand them a complicated curriculum, set up a multi-year program, or require them to pass academic courses.
So, what did He do? He simply lived with them, loved them, and taught them.
When we look closely at the Gospels, we see that Jesus never established different classes of believers. There was no "us-versus-them" attitude. To Jesus, every single follower was simply a disciple—a word that literally means a "learner."
Now, He did appoint some as apostles, pastors, and teachers to help the church. But all were taught not to be proud, but to walk as fellow believers, using their different gifts to lift each other up.
And that same beautiful, uncomplicated call is extended to you and me today.
Following Jesus isn't about measuring up to a rigid system of religious performance or acquiring fancy titles. It is about being a daily learner of His teachings. As disciples of Jesus, our calling is incredibly straightforward: we spend time in His Word, let His teachings change our hearts, and then pass those simple truths on to the people in our lives. Disciples making disciples—it is as simple as that.
Today, let go of any pressure to perform. Jesus isn't looking for religious professionals; He is simply looking for people who are willing to pull their boats ashore, leave their old ways behind, and walk with Him daily.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for the beautiful simplicity of Your call to follow You. Remove any religious pride or "us-them" attitudes from my heart today. Teach me through Your Word, and give me the grace to share Your simple truth and love with someone else today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.