…. And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen and Jesus said to them “follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” Matthew:4:18-20
When I was trying to understand the reason why this blog started, I came across the story of Jesus and his disciples. Looking back at how all this started, I started to realise that we are like the disciple Jesus looked for. I thought about nice being the first disciple who heard when Jesus said “follow me” by suggesting this idea of a home cell.
Then I became the other disciple when I agreed with nice’s suggestion, to upload spiritually fulfilling and soul enriching blogs, all the people that said, “add me to your list” heard when Jesus said “follow me”.
As I was reading the story trying to find out what type of people Jesus chose as his disciples, and what their duties were, now that they chose to follow him. I was astonished to find that apostles were just simple ordinary men whom God used in an extraordinary manner, to spread the word. Among the 12 were fishermen, a tax collector, and a revolutionary. He did not say, because you can quote verses from the bible; follow me, because you go to church every single Sunday, follow me. Why? because the word “disciple” refers to a “learner”. So they learned from Jesus and were trained by him to spread the word.
The bible even states the constant failings, struggles, and doubts of these twelve men who followed Jesus Christ. After witnessing Jesus' resurrection and ascension into Heaven, the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples into powerful men of God who "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Therefore meaning that they were not perfect, they made their own mistakes.
So, now that we are not living in the era where Jesus is available to train us physically, what can we do to ensure that we are learning from him, and being trained by him constantly? Well I think by learning his word. There are many other ways which I believe my fellow home cell members will enlighten us with.
Sometimes people don’t participate on these kinds of blogs. Those disciples that said “add me” don’t participate as well. Sometimes it is because of work commitments, but most of the time, it is because they think because they cannot quote verses, they don’t go to church, they cannot participate, or maybe it is because they are afraid of being judged if they make a mistake or it will show how much of a m’hedene they are, but gosh I wish they knew that is not the aim at all.
What I have learned from all of this is that, you don’t need to be perfect to in order “follow Him” and that there is a solution in the bible for each and every storm that we face in our lives. My suggestion is that, if one doesn’t know what to say, you can just state your case and try to find the scripture yourself in the bible, or those who know the scripture on that particular comment will inform you, in that way, you also learn to quote the bible and learning to spread the word at the same time. (Well that is what I do as I am not a bible wizard as well). So in that way, we are being transformed fully by the Holy Spirit just like his disciples.
My fellow home cell members when you said you “add me” why did you want to belong to the home cell?
And now that you chose to follow him, what do you think your duties are?
Why is it easy to blog about sex, relationships, gossip etc but not about the word?
What can we do daily in order to learn the ways of God?
As disciples what can we do in order to combat the fear of talking about him?