I have 3 things you can stop and do to ensure a good day. Ready? 1. You can speak to your Savior and God of the universe! Have you done it? 2. You can Follow Him. Are you taking at least one step a day? AND. 3. You can drink coffee. I mean. Really. At least we all have the option.. whether you like it not... mmm it's a happy thought for me. :)

Resolved. Jesus is resolved. We're all common people. Just like Simon. God sees. God knows. God loves and He has a plan. Are you following Him with real, tangible, practical steps?

Yesterday we really focused on the resolve that the Lord has toward us. It led Him straight to the cross. Take a minute and think about that.

[No. Really. Then stop and thank your Savior. ]

Now. Let's take a closer look at our fisherman. We've already mentioned he was a hard working fisherman. This denotes a common salary and living quarters. We know Simon was married. We read accounts of his mother in law and also of his wife. (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:30). Historical accounts suggest he also had a daughter. He has a brother, Andrew who first brought him to Jesus (John 1:42). He wasn't formally educated although most Jewish boys his age would have studied the Scriptures from the age of 5 (Acts 4:13). We know that Simons brother, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist before his calling by Jesus by reading John 1:35-42. At the very least we can certainly assume that Simon was expecting the Messiah and had heard rumors of His presence.

So we know that Simon was a man that most of us would love to know. Common, hard-working, devoted, and a person who made mistakes like the rest of us and had to learn from them and more forward. There was however at least one beautifully life-changing and deeply essential thing about Simon that set him apart time and time again.

He was a man of action.

Can the same be said of you?

Let's think about it this way. You're Simon. Going about your normal daily routine. You've heard so many things about Jesus. In fact, you've spent your life in study and pursuit of Him. Some might even call you a “follower of the Messiah” already. Then suddenly, you come face to face with his reality and He asks you to follow. (He did.. you know.) Would you be one to literally jump out of the boat and go... or would you sit in your boat for the rest of the day musing about just how awesome it was that Jesus called your name... thinking about how maybe you should respond, never following for more? Do you need all the details? Do you need assurance of your own importance and promises of smooth sailing? Do you need circumstances laid out so YOU can be in control and make Jesus follow you, cleaning up your circumstances? Or are you resolved to follow the One who is obviously King.. and despite all comprehension has chosen to love us and lead us forward.. Are you willing to admit you don't have it all together? You're not supposed to. You're not the leader! But you ARE responsible for taking action. We HAVE to find out what our step is today to follow Him. Might I suggest time on your knees? Ask Him to make you aware of how specifically you are to follow Him today! Peter was prepared. He wasn't caught off guard or left wondering if it was really Jesus who was talking to him. He'd been listening...

Let's choose action. Let's follow God.

You don't have to figure it out or know where you're going. In fact... you can't. But following IS action. So if you aren't actively taking one step at a time, you aren't following at all. Knowledge without action is useless.Are you trying to use your knowledge about Christ... to serve... you? It doesn't work that way.  Please read: James 1:22, James 2:17, Matthew 12:33, and Matthew 11:18-19.

Jesus said, “Come. Follow Me.”