They left it

“And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark‬ ‭1:17-18‬ ‭

When we decide to follow Jesus, it will always require that we let go of something and that we move into action. At Jesus’ call, the disciples dropped their nets. They left them to follow Jesus.

I think about how absurd it would have been if the disciples had done otherwise. What if they had determined to follow Jesus, but held on to their nets, just in case? What if they had carried their nets around from town to town? The added weight of the unnecessary nets, the extra time it would take to get things done, and just grown men carrying around nets on dry land, it would be absurd. Nets are only useful in the water. With these things in mind, it’s easy to consider why they left their nets.

I started to think about a client I am working with as I read this passage. I have a desire to see this client overcome some past problems. I want this person to see the baggage that needs to be left behind. To see the freedom that is available, if they could just release the baggage. That is when I realized, I need to take my own advice.

In my own life I carry unnecessary things. I carry around things from my past that slow me down. Things that weigh me down spiritually and emotionally. Things that waste time unnecessarily. They may not be as visible as a fishing net, but they are still there.

Other things, like physical weight, are visible. Extra weight served me in the past, but ai don’t need it anymore. Complaining and gripping, it no longer serves me. The walls I built around me, I don’t need them anymore. I can let these things go and allow myself to follow Him free of the added weight and burdens.

Prayer – Lord I realize I’ve held on to some things from the past, that I don’t really need to serve You. Help me to leave them behind and follow You. Free of the added weight, stress, time and space that they have taken up in my life, so that I can pass on those lessons to those You have blessed me to work with!