A Life of Growing with Jesus
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Matthew 4:19
When Jesus first spoke these words, He was not offering a program or a set of rules, He was offering Himself. “Follow Me” was an invitation into relationship. The fishermen by the Sea of Galilee did not yet fully understand who Jesus was or where following Him would lead, but they trusted His call. Their lives were forever changed, not because they had it all figured out, but because they stayed close to Him.
Following Jesus means growing in our relationship with Him day by day. It is a journey of coming to know Him more deeply ~ His heart, His ways, His compassion, and His truth. The disciples learned who Jesus was not only through His teaching, but by walking with Him, watching how He loved people, how He prayed, how He served, and how He obeyed the Father. In the same way, our faith grows as we spend time with Him daily, listening to His Word and responding in trust.
Jesus also said, “I will make you.” Transformation is His work. As we follow Him, He shapes us from the inside out. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, we are empowered to serve as He did—not in our own strength, but through His life flowing through ours. The disciples were ordinary people, yet God used them in extraordinary ways because they allowed Jesus to form them, teach them, and send them.
Following Jesus also means being changed to become more like Him. The disciples did not change overnight; their growth was gradual, sometimes messy, and often marked by failure and grace. Yet as they stayed with Jesus, their love for Him deepened, their faith matured, and their lives began to reflect His character. By God’s grace, the same is true for us. As we follow Him, we grow in love, humility, obedience, and compassion.
Ultimately, following Jesus leads us into a deeper love for Him. The more we know Him, the more we love Him. And the more we love Him, the more willingly we follow. This is the beautiful work God is doing in us—calling us, shaping us, and drawing us ever closer to Himself as we walk with Jesus each day.
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling us to follow You. Thank You for inviting us into a living relationship with You, not based on our strength, but on Your grace. Help us to walk with You daily, to know You more deeply, and to listen to Your voice. Shape us by Your Spirit, change us to be more like You, and teach us to serve as You served. Grow our love for You, and use our lives for Your glory. We trust You to continue the good work You have begun in us. Amen.