Compelled
I have been sold things that I didn’t need. I have had high pressure sales pitches and occasionally I’ve fallen prey to them. If you’ve ever been to a resort with time-share options and been through one of those “sales introductions”, then you know what I mean. They really apply the pressure until you say “no” for the 10th time and they simply cool off and leave you alone.
When I started following Jesus back in third grade, I must admit that I didn’t know a lot about Him. I just knew that I wanted to go to heaven when I died. I followed Jesus out of fear of hell. I have had my seasons of being a “slacker follower” and acted as if I were a follower.
I love the passage in Matthew where Jesus calls His first disciples. They are two sets of brothers. Check this out….
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James, and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. (Matthew 4:18-22 NLT)
I can only imagine what the friends of Peter, Andrew, James & John must have thought. There was something incredibly magnetic about Jesus’ personality, His teaching…His Presence. They were compelled to follow Jesus.
I am not sure how to describe the way I feel compelled to follow Him. I’m been following Him for years now and I enjoy talking to Him about anything. I enjoy connecting with Him first thing in the morning. (His mercies are new every morning!) I enjoy the blessings in my life that come from knowing Him and following Him.
As I read His Word and talk to Him, I simply want to know Him more. I want Him to have access to every area of my life. I confess my sins and repent of them. I don’t have to work as hard to follow Him. I simply feel compelled to follow Him and I’m blessed through that obedience. I feel compelled this morning to renew my deep faith in Him.
Pressing On!
Dwayne