Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. — Matthew 4:22.
The abruptness of this verse is stunning. Today, we read headlines about high-profile figures—whether coaches, CEOs, or executives—making career transitions. These moves are often preceded by months of negotiation, lucrative contracts, and carefully planned press conferences. The sheer financial magnitude involved is mind boggling.
Contrast that with Peter, James, John, and Andrew. They were not seeking a better contract; they were abandoning a thriving, multi-generational family business. The stability of fishing was their legacy, their livelihood, and their security. The moment Christ spoke, they dropped their nets and left their boat—the essential tools of their trade—and walked away. There is no mention in the Gospels of a prolonged discussion, a feasibility study, a multi-million dollar buyout, or a “notice” period.
This is why the “Call” to the first disciples feels like the true foundational miracle of Christ’s ministry, even before the water was turned to wine. It required an instantaneous, total shift of the human heart and will.
We can only imagine the scene Peter walked into when he told his wife about the career change. It’s easy to picture her saying, with justifiable fear, “Who exactly is going to put food on the table? This man is a carpenter, and we are fishermen! Can this ‘King’ produce loaves and fishes out of thin air?” The immediate obedience of the disciples meant stepping into absolute vocational and financial uncertainty.
The season of Advent is a time when God places opportunities—often inconvenient or challenging—squarely in front of us. These calls may not demand the abandonment of your current job, but they always demand a departure from old habits, comfortable routines, or predictable ways of thinking. These new opportunities are not always safe, but they are invariably exciting and conducive to growth in grace.
The question of Matthew 4:22 remains: When the Lord places a new net, a new mission, or a new focus in your path, will you be as open to immediate, radical change as the early disciples? Will you leave the familiar boat and follow?
Leave a Reply +