"Immediately They Left"

"And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him." Matthew 4:22

This is such a simple verse but it says so much.  When Jesus called Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him, this was their response. 

"They immediately".  They didn't drag their feet, take their time, lollygag around or think about it for a while.  They immediately obeyed Jesus and went with Him.

"They left the ship".  They left their "comfort zone".  They left what was familiar to them. They left what they were good at and knew how to do.  They left what they were accustomed to.  They left their plans for themselves and the plans that someone else had made for them.

"They left their father".  They left that which they loved- one that was dear to their heart.  They also left that which had had authority over them up to that point.

When the Lord called you to receive and follow Him as your Savior, or when He called/calls you to follow a specific plan He has ordained for your life, what was (or is) your response?  Do you take your own sweet time about it?  Do you drag your feet?  Do you procrastinate doing it?  Do you wait until you get good and ready to do it?  Or is your obedience and response immediate?   

What is your response when He calls you out of your comfort zone and the place of familiarity? How willing are you to leave your plans and follow His plans?  Are you in such a bondage to someone else that they have more power over your life than you are willing to allow Him to have?

When we come to Christ, there will be sacrifices, we may have to leave what we hold dear.  We may have to give up what we hold near to our heart.  We have to relinquish any other authority over our lives and surrender to His authority.  This is especially true when we receive Him as Savior.  Before then satan was the father of our lives (John 8:44).  Now we have a new Father.  Satan no longer has authority over us that we should obey him and his plans for us.  In order to follow Jesus, we have to give up our own authority over our lives and place it in His hands?  Are you willing to do that?  Are you willing to do it immediately when He calls?

When Jesus called the disciples to follow Him, there was no struggle, no waiting, no fear, only surrender.  This should be our same response.  Is it? 

Have a great day.  Are you willing to live a life of immediately doing what the Lord calls you to do?