to leave them, for they were

A week ago, my pastor preached a sermon on discipleship that mentioned that the fishermen who dropped their nets when called by Christ likely knew Him beforehand -- had, in fact, spent copious amounts of time listening to His teachings and witnessing signs and wonders before the call. Studied Luke5/Matt9/Mark2 story of the calling of Levi/Matt yesterday, and his dropping of his former life was also more than likely not a spontaneous reaction to the calling of God.

I think it's easy for us to imagine these dropped nets and careers as ideals of faith -- that meeting Christ is such a powerful experience it causes one to leave one's former life at the drop of a hat, even at first impression. I don't think that imagined faith ideal loses its luster in the light of the knowledge that these disciples had long known Christ to be something special, and that they were in fact, just waiting for the sign that would indicate He was ready to take on his kingship. You see, the leaving of one's BC life is no less difficult whether you've known Christ for ten years, or whether you've just been introduced.

Obedience to following the path He has laid out for you is not some singular point along one's faith walk. It is not that jumping off point. Rather, it's a continuous look for the snapped twigs and dropped clues that signal where He's taking you. And along the way, there are forks that may require you to leave behind that bread crumb trail you've been placing just in case you wanted to go back.

I could probably stretch this analogy even further, but I'll let it linger in your mind instead.