The offer by Jesus to “follow me” and change go hand in hand. For Jesus, the lake was a means to an end; to get to the other side. For Peter it is also a means to an end; to put food on the table. Following Jesus means changing your perspective; for Peter, the lake changed from a source of employment to a means of travel. For Matthew, the tax collector, “follow me,” meant a completely different direction. The point is, change is change, no matter which it touches; for it touches everyone. There is no cookie-cutter design for change.
A close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is about following, and changing. It is important to understand that these two matters require a willingness of the heart, or the emotional part of humanity. Jesus refers to this in the New Testament book of Matthew when he tells his disciples why he tells stories; for those who are intrigued and come to him to learn more.
The blog this year began with the story of Peter and his brother, Andrew. These men were fishermen who worked with other fishermen, a business if you will. What made this morning—most probably it was morning—any different from any other one? Do you suppose Peter woke up that morning thinking about a life change? Do you think he was talking with his brother about doing something different with their lives? Do you suppose it was simply chance that Jesus came by that day? The Bible does not give any insight into any of these questions, but the probable answer to each of them is no; it is doubtful that the brothers were having such a conversation, and most assuredly Jesus did no just “happen” by.
I have touched on this throughout this current topic several times; but what prompted Peter and his brother, to drop their nets and take off with Jesus? I believe the stories of Jesus in the New Testament book of Matthew give some insight. In one of his stories, Jesus tells of a farmer casting seed on the ground. He tells of four distinct types of ground. Some of the seed lands on the path, while some in the gravel, and some in the weeds. Finally, some of the seeds land in the plowed soil of the field. In each instance, something happens to the seed; but only the seed that lands in the plowed field that grows to the point of producing a crop.
The twelve men that became the twelve disciples of Jesus had the plowed soil (of the heart) that allowed the seed to not only grow but also evidently produce a crop. This very important to understand, for it is the bases accepting Jesus’ offer to “follow me.”
The apostle Paul in the New Testament weighs in on this in his letters to the Christ-followers scattered throughout the Middle East. He states that one person may cast the seed, while another person may come along and water the seed, but only God causes the seed to grow. This means that throughout the lives of each of these men, Peter, Andrew, and the other disciples, things said to them touched their heart (the plowed soil) that prepared them for the encounter with Jesus’ request to “follow me.”
This is true of every person who has ever followed Jesus, as well as every person who will follow him. This is huge for several reasons; the first of which is your decision to follow him. I can assure you that something deep within you—the plowed soil of your heart—wanted to respond, even if “things” prevented you from doing so right away.
A close personal relationship with the godhead is centered on the plowed soil of your heart. It starts with the willingness to respond. The process may be slow, but the willingness never changes; in fact, it gets easier.