Wanted: Followers

ONLINE social networking is part of modern living. Millions of people around the world use it for work and pleasure. In a very short time it has become a global phenomenon and many people wonder how they ever managed without it.

Girls with laptop computerI was interested to discover that on Twitter the people who receive ‘tweets’ are called ‘followers’. The Twitter rules state no one may follow more than 2,000 people at a time – that’s a lot of following.

This is not the same as becoming a friend, as happens on other social networking sites, because following on Twitter is not by invitation. In other words, if someone thinks you’re interesting they just start following. They don’t have to ask first, nor do you have to invite them.

In contrast, in his Gospel, Mark writes about Jesus calling people to follow him and become his disciples. ‘As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”’ (Mark 1:16, 17 New International Version).

Jesus started his teaching by recruiting people to share their lives with him. He didn’t just sit back and hope people would decide to become his disciples. Instead Jesus took the initiative.

He didn’t call educated men or students of religion but ordinary working men, busy in their everyday activities supporting their families and communities. He wanted them to use their life skills as fishermen to serve God and to change the world.

They accepted Jesus’ invitation and followed him. ‘At once they left their nets and followed him. 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’ (1:18–20).

Today Jesus still calls people – people such as you and me – to follow him. But, like those fishermen, we don’t know where following Jesus will take us. There may be challenges to face, but the life of opportunity and purpose Jesus offers his followers makes facing those challenges worthwhile.

UK War Cry - August 2010