January
6, 2003
FOLLOW
ME
"And
Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the
sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, 'Follow
Me'-- They immediately left their nets and followed Him"
(Matthew 4:18-20, NKJV).
"Going
on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their
father, mending their nets. He call them, and immediately
they left the boat and their father, and followed Him"
(Matthew 4:21, 22).
"They
were humble and unlearned men, those fishers of Galilee; but
Christ, the light of the world, was abundantly able to qualify
them for the position for which He had chosen them. The Saviour
did not despise education; for when controlled by the love
of God, and devoted to His service, intellectual culture is
a blessing. But He passed by the wise men of His time, because
they were so self-confident that they could not sympathize
with suffering humanity, and become colaborers with the Man
of Nazareth. In their bigotry they scorned to be taught by
Christ. The Lord Jesus seeks the cooperation of those who
will become unobstructed channels for the communication of
His grace. The first thing to be learned by all who would
become workers together with God is the lesson of self-distrust;
then they are prepared to have imparted to them the character
of Christ. This is not to be gained through education in the
most scientific schools. It is the fruit of wisdom that is
obtained from the divine Teacher alone.
"Jesus
chose unlearned fishermen because they had not been schooled
in the traditions and erroneous customs of their time. They
were men of native ability, and they were humble and teachable,--
men whom He could educate for His work. In the common walks
of life there is many a man patiently treading the round of
daily toil, unconscious that he possesses powers which, if
called into action, would raise him to an equality with the
world's most honored men. The touch of a skillful hand is
needed to arouse those dormant faculties. It was such men
that Jesus called to be His colaborers; and He gave them the
advantage of association with Himself. Never had the world's
great men such a teacher. When the disciples came forth from
the Saviour's training, they were no longer ignorant and uncultured.
They had become like Him in mind and character, and men took
knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus...
"God
takes men [and women] as they are, and educates them for His
service, if they will yield themselves to Him. The Spirit
of God, received into the soul, will quicken all its faculties.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the mind that is devoted
unreservedly to God develops harmoniously, and is strengthened
to comprehend and fulfill the requirements of God. The weak,
vacillating character becomes changed to one of strength and
steadfastness. Continual devotion establishes so close a relation
between Jesus and His disciple that the Christian becomes
like Him in mind and character."-- The Desire of
Ages, pp. 249-251.
"Then
Jesus said to His disciples. 'If anyone
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow Me' " (Matthew 16:24).
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