Follow Who?

In Matthew 4:19, we have Jesus saying  "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." And, as teachers often do, I explained that the word "follow" means to "follow closely."  But we often miss the point, that Jesus said to follow "me."

Christians often decide that since their own group is correct, they should not listen to other groups. While there is some wisdom in this, there are also problems. I believe heavily in soul-winning and witnessing. What do I do if someone from another group is winning large numbers of souls, and he wants to offer me advice?

In Mark 9:40, Jesus said  "For he who is not against us is on our side."  Someone who couldn't get along with the apostles had been casting out demons in Jesus's Name, and the apostles had forbidden him to do it. But Jesus claimed that man as one of His own. Following Jesus closely means that you can get along with other Christians. It doesn't mean that you refuse to fellowship with, or have anything to do with them, because you think that your group is right.

Follow How?

In Matthew 4:19, we have Jesus saying  "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

In the Greek, "follow" is actually two words. They mean "Follow closely behind." Half-hearted Christians have something wrong with them; they are not closely following Jesus. That's why they win few, if any, souls to Christ.

And there's something else in this verse that we often miss: it is Jesus's responsibility to make you a fisher of men. YOUR responsibility is to follow Christ closely. Then Jesus works in your life to make you more successful.