A single word was sufficient
to subdue the stoutest heart. By Charles Simeon. Matthew Chapter 4 verses 18-22
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net
into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me,"
Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they
left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he
saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee, and his brother
John. They were in a boat with their
father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and
immediately they left the boat and their father and followed
him. When he was on earth, Jesus never
coerced any to be his followers by outward force. A single word
was sufficient to subdue the stoutest heart. If he said to
Matthew, the greedy tax collector, follow me, then not all the wealth
of kingdoms could detain his willing captive. If he said,
Zacchaeus, come down immediately, then behold, the covetous extortioner
is instantly transformed into his benevolent and obedient follower. He effectually called to himself
whomever he desired. Such was his all-constraining
power that, without hesitation, they left all that they had and
followed him. And though he promised his subjects
nothing but poverty and persecution in this world, yet they all delighted
to be his devoted followers and gloried in suffering for his
sake. so entirely did they yield up
themselves to him, that opposition served only to rivet their affections
to him, and to confirm them in their determination to live and
die in his service. To this day, multitudes in every
place take, as it were, an oath of allegiance to him, and are
made willing to even lay down their lives for him.