Many believers are familiar with the account of Peter and Andrew responding to the Lord’s invitation to Follow Him.
This was a defining moment for them, as well as for James and John, as they said yes to the Lord’s call to align with His ministry work (Matthew 4:22). They laid down their occupations while displaying a willingness to let go of family ties in choosing to follow the Lord.
There are defining moments in life when important decisions are made. These moments often entail a change in the way things are done. It can require a “letting go” of something that is familiar, something that has worked and proven to be a blessing over the course of time.
It was at this time when the disciples of John the Baptist took issue with this new movement. They challenged Jesus as to why His disciples could eat and drink, but the disciples of John continued in prayer and fasting. How did Jesus respond to this group?
Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined (Luke 5:36-37).
The ministry of Jesus represented New Wine, a New Way of doing things as He entered into the fullness of His earthly ministry. He called out certain men to be a part of this exciting New Movement. This familiar account has real meaning for Lighthouse and the church at large for our day. Do you sense a fresh stirring in the Spirit? Do you want to be aligned and in the flow of all that God is doing in the lead-up to the 2nd Coming of Christ? How would we respond to the Lord’s spoken invitation of “Follow Me”? Here are some helpful insights.
Discerning the Moment
In today’s Christianity, we often hear the expression of knowing the times and seasons of the Lord. The tribe of Issachar had this unique anointing (1 Chronicles 12:32). Solomon, as he was nearing the end of his life spoke about the varying times and seasons of life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). The Lord wants His people to have an awareness of knowing His heart and intent.
Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart (Jeremiah 24:7).
The key for us is in having a heart that seeks wholly after God (Jeremiah 29:13). This can be achieved through the study of His Word as well as time spent in prayer and reflection upon His Law and Ways. God longs to reveal His heart and intent; will we let Him?
Letting Go
Peter, Andrew, James, and John were followers of the Lord and were willing to take their commitment to Him to another level. They IMMEDIATELY let go of the familiarity of their occupation in order to flow in the New Thing, the New Wine that God was about to introduce through His Son.
Let’s be honest! Letting go of something that has been familiar is not easy to do. This is especially true if that way of doing things has had success. Think of the disciples of John the Baptist. John’s ministry was powerful as he declared the message of Repentance in addition to his message of preparing the people for the ministry of Jesus. John was able to let go, but many of his disciples could not.
He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
Follow Me!
Did you know there are approximately twenty times in the gospels when the Lord spoke the Words “Follow Me”? It was a defining moment in time, a call to action, where disciples would be called out of their comfort zone. A call to the laying down of personalised agendas while aligning with His Mission. It is amazing to think that Jesus called and used ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things through His mighty power. These men and women both discerned and responded to the invitation of those words “Follow Me”.
What about us? Remember, Jesus always saves the best wine for last. Are we prepared to become New Wineskins for the New Wine as we enter 2026 and beyond?
And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now (John 2:10)!
DAILY MEDITATIONS:
Monday: John 1:43
The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
Tuesday: Matthew 9:9
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
Wednesday: Matthew 4:19
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Thursday: John 10:27
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Friday: Luke 18:22
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Saturday: John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Sunday: Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
All scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV).
By Pastor Timothy O’Connell
