" Get in the car" my husband said as I opened the door to his shiny silver Hyundai. Nearing the end of a long day at work, I reflected on the relatively uneventful nature of my birthday. I walked up the stairs to find my husband eagerly awaiting my arrival so he could unveil his surprise. "But, what about my car?" I said, hands juggling my coat and purse. "Just get in". Before I could say another word, we sped away, destination unknown. I got in, expecting my children to erupt in cheers and happiness, but their silence became deafening as I noticed their absence. " They are with my parents", he said. " But where are we going?" I inquired. "You'll see." We drove about twenty minutes and pulled into the parking lot of our favorite restaurant. " Is this ok?" " I shook my head in approval, embarrassed at my anger at him only hours before for failure to plan anything special.
It was obvious to me as soon as i saw him he wanted me to hurry up and do what he asked me to do because something wonderful was awaiting me.
It is so easy for me to move quickly when I know something will benefit me- going to a favorite restaurant, scoring some extra spending money or a little extra morning shuteye. But, how quickly do I move when I know I'm going to have to sacrifice something or lose something of importance?
Mark 1:19-20 says "When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
What strikes me about the passage are the words " without delay." Jesus, James and John all saw an opportunity before them and took it, they never stopped and thought about the cost or sacrifice that might await them. They didn't take a moment to pray about it, or weigh out the pros and cons of their decision. Jesus saw two men who He believed was good soil to glorify His father's name, and James and John left a comfortable job and life to become more like a man they knew very little about.
How much more knowledgeable are we? We've read the Scriptures, combed the commentaries and sung all the hymns in the hopes of becoming a fraction more like Jesus.
How quickly do you answer Jesus' call to follow Him? Do you hesitate, or do you go without delay?
