Most things in life do not happen from one day to another, they tend to be gradual, they tend to happen step by step. For example there was a series of steps to graduate from college, a series of steps before marriage, a series of steps before the purchase of a property and so on. The funny thing is that when it comes to following Jesus most people assume that it’s an all or nothing venture. I have good news for you … that is not God’s plan for your life. The good news is that following Jesus is not about all the things you must stop doing and all the things you must start doing, following Jesus is all about taking the next step from wherever you are towards Jesus.

Luke 5:1-11

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

When you read the last verse, so they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him, it sounds reckless and irresponsible. But there was a series of steps that led up to this decision. First, Simon allowed Jesus to borrow his boat. Second, they listened to Jesus’ words. Third, Simon and the others followed Jesus’ suggestion to go into deeper waters and let down the nets. Fourth, they were witnesses to a miraculous catch. Then, after a series of steps they decided to leave everything behind and follow Jesus.

The reason this story is so important to us is that like those followers of Jesus we are all different. We are different people, with different backgrounds, with different expectations and with different levels of faith. But no matter where we are, all we need to do is take the next step towards Jesus. For some it’s just listening, for others it’s doing Jesus a favor, for others it might mean going in a bit deeper. But it’s not an all or nothing venture.

When you decide to take a step towards Jesus, eventually your almost non-existing small faith will cross paths with Jesus’ faithfulness and all of a sudden you will realize the character and the nature of the man in whose presence you stand in.

It’s simple; following Jesus is a step-by-step process, not an all or nothing deal.

Heavenly Father, show me the next step you want me to take. I trust that you only want what’s best for me. I’m eager to see you do great things in my life.