Key scripture – “And He said to them, `Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’. Immediately they left their nets, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:19-20).

If you want to get to know God, in addition to reading and meditating on the Bible, you must learn to respond immediately to God’s leading in your life!

When Jesus called the disciples, the Key scripture shows that they immediately left everything and followed Him. That response was the beginning of such a wonderful journey of growing relationally close to Jesus.

Matthew also tells the story in Matthew 19:21-22 of another young man Jesus invited to leave everything and to follow Him.

“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19:16-22).

Did you see what it said the young man did after Jesus’ invitation, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” He valued the comfort of keeping things the way they were more than he valued responding to Jesus’ invitation.

Like the disciples, the way to increase your sensitivity to what God is saying is to respond immediately to what God is already making clear to you. If God is speaking to you about something in your life right now, and you ignore it, your heart becomes hardened toward Him and your relationship with Him suffers. But if you learn to respond immediately to God’s leading, your relationship with Him soars.

In faith, the fishermen left their nets. The rich young man also had a net, a safety net. But he couldn’t give it up.

What do you need to respond to God about today?

In order to be a great man or woman of faith you must show that you believe The Lord by immediately responding to Him, and when you do it will be credited to you as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6).

“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, forgive me for when I have hesitated to respond to You, when I have just partially responded, and when I have completely failed to respond, because those were all acts of disobedience. I know that You delight in me quickly responding in obedience to Your Word and Your leading in my life. Paul told us in Romans, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). Forgive me for not trusting You enough to follow Your Word and to respond immediately to the plans that You have for me, which are good plans because they are plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11). Holy Spirit help me to walk in complete obedience today and everyday. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.