As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. (Mark 1:16)

Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. (Mark 1:19)

When Christ called Simon and Andrew, then James and John, He called to them and they left everything behind to follow. This is no small thing. They left their business, their family and everything they knew for something unknown. But their faith made them bold and they went.

Having a daughter and son-in-law who are missionaries and who went overseas for four years was not easy. Neither on them nor on our families. But they heard God’s call and went. Our son heard another call and went into the military. For many years we were here alone only seeing our children for brief periods. So a calling is not only an act of faith by the person leaving but for the people left behind if we are to be supportive.

Furthermore, note that these disciples were simple fishermen. Christ did not seek the affluent or religious scholars. No, He sought the simple. Those who would be more open to His teaching and less likely to allow old views to cloud Christ new message. However, later Christ converted a Pharisee, one who both knew the law and sought to find and punish believers. He did this to show the possibilities behind a different kind of conversion.

Christ can call anyone. But we must all be willing to count the cost and to see beyond what we might think we know to what He desires. Faith in following Christ is all we need, He will supply the rest. Nothing you have is worth more than our simple, but profound acts of faith.