To practice his new method of fishing, Taylor must resist old habits. To follow Jesus, I must also resist old habits. The world’s ways are not the Lord’s ways. We’ve been taught to always strive to be number one. Jesus teaches an opposite path: “He who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”
The Jesus’ method of living opposes the world and challenges the practical. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
Jesus walked this surrendered life claiming full dependence on His Father in Heaven. “By myself I can do nothing…” “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…” “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.”
So how should I live? Can I resist striving to be number one? Can I deny myself? Can I become the least? Can I come to the place where I realize I am nothing without Christ? Can I obey the Master, even when His direction goes against my common sense or my physical comfort? Can my message be His message? Can my actions be His actions?
Such life only comes from above. Jesus gives us peace when we come to Him, and He patiently teaches us. He puts His burden on us, but it is not heavy. He leads us beside still waters. He restores our souls. He anoints us with His Spirit and puts our enemies to shame. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30