Follow and Fish

For a wide variety of reasons, each day upon my reading of scripture I settle on a brief passage and think about it throughout the day. The point is not just to think about it, but pray through it and let it permeate my heart and mind; work its way through me. This morning as I read, the following passage jumped out and I have since been pondering what the Lord might be saying to me right now:

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Mark 1: 17-18

The passage seems so straight forward and easy to comprehend; simply follow Jesus. Now. Period. However, in day to day life how clouded that message becomes or at least how easily it is pushed aside. I read about Simon and Andrew and think, “Clearly if Jesus physically came up to me and directed me to follow Him I would do so, right?” Not only does he say here to follow him (what I take in this instance as literally following him and learning from his leading), but the point is that these men will follow His instruction, will learn from Him, and then be able to bring others to Him because of what they learn.

This has led me to think today of how often I do not respond to his order to follow Him, which leads to sharing his Grace with others. However, it also prompted me to think of how I can do this in even the most menial daily tasks: Today, did I drive politely, with others in mind? Was a talkative or kind towards to grocery store cashier? Was I considerate towards others in conversation? Did I cook, clean, and serve others joyfully? And, were each of these things evidence of the Holy Spirit in me and did they shine the light of the Gospel?

I obviously have no answers, but even thinking on these verses and being more aware this afternoon than I was this morning of how they should shroud my every thought and action, I feel a deeper calling to “follow and fish!”