GIFTED: God Will Be Constant

In Mark 1, Jesus is calling his first disciples. “Passing along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 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” (verses 16-18). Look carefully at the way Jesus calls them. He says, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” He doesn’t say, “Go become fishers of men.”

There’s a big difference there. The first implies that Jesus is going to be with his disciples, teaching them how to become fishers of men. The second implies that the disciples are all on their own. They have been given a command, but no information or guidance on how to do it. Fishers of men? What does that even mean? they would ask. They would soon give up on the task and return to fishing for fish.

When God calls us to do something, he doesn’t throw us out into the world alone. We are not called to be alone; we are called to do God’s work with him alongside us. He calls us to follow him so he can remake us. He is always here to guide, teach, and protect us. He is constantly with us. This is to save us, yes, but also to prepare us. He is constant with us so we can learn how to be constant with others. God will be constant, and we can, too, if we follow him.