Journal Guide - Drop Your Nets - Mark 1:16-18
Drop Your Nets
Mark 1:16-18
Week 3/Day 4
Hey all, it’s Daisy. I am back with another devotional. I am inviting you to join me as we open our Bibles to the Book of Mark and spend some alone time with God together. You’ll need your Bible, a pen, and a designated journal. If you have our Alone With God journal, use that. Or you can download a copy of a journal page here. If you would like to order a copy of the Alone With God journal, you can do so at wordbymail.com.
The journal is miraculous. It’s so wonderful. It’s the perfect tool to help you center your focus and really get into the practice of spending time in the scripture and allowing it to transform you. It’s just a fabulous tool. These devotionals are crafted for the journal.
Today we will be meditating on Mark Chapter 1, verses 16-18. And we’ll read the passage a couple of times. Then you can stop, read the verse on your own, and really meditate on it. Be thinking about what God’s Word is saying and why he’s saying it.
Mark 1:16-18 (NIV)
16 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.
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
I love this verse so much because it always shocks me how willingly they just dropped everything to follow him. They didn’t argue with him. They didn’t make excuses. They didn’t think he was crazy. They didn’t ask him to come back on a different day. They just obeyed. It was just simple. He had a command. They listened, and they obeyed.
And while the Disciples were far from perfect, and we have so many examples of them just messing up over and over again, they were men who were committed to Jesus through their faith. That’s so amazing. Think about that.
The other thing that really stands out to me about this verse is the fact that before they could even follow Jesus, they had to drop their nets. They had to drop everything that they knew. They had to drop their comforts and their distractions to know Jesus and make him know. And maybe they didn’t even know what they were getting themselves into. But they took the first step. They abandoned what they were doing, what was making them money, what was known to them, so that they could go and know Jesus. That is powerful, and that is so cool.
So, take a moment, and in the Meditate section, write out what God is saying in this verse. What are the spiritual principles here?
Now, look back over the scripture. Think about how this applies to your life, personally and specifically. In the Apply section, write down whatever stands out to you about this verse. I just shared some of the things that stand out to me, but maybe ask yourself, what is God asking you to drop to make you a better disciple? And are you willing to let go of the things that you’re holding on to that prevent you from following Jesus? So, take a moment and apply the scripture.
Now, let’s respond to God. What action can you take this week to bring this verse to life? What nets can you practice dropping this week? In the Respond section of your journal page, go ahead and write down your response to God.
Finally, we are going to close out in prayer. I will pray first, and then you’re going to take a couple of minutes, and in the Pray section, write your own prayer and close out this devotional by yourself. Let’s pray.
God, please make us better disciples. Help us to drop the things that we are holding onto so tightly and make more room in our lives for you. Maybe we’re holding on to something emotional like fear or doubt. Or maybe it’s a job that’s pulling us away, or a friend group, or a relationship. Help us to drop our nets and follow you with full hearts. We are not perfect, but we know that our faith is the most valuable thing to you. Thank you for your constant love and your constant grace as you forgive us daily, moment to moment, and give us more chances than we are even deserving of. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The journal is miraculous. It’s so wonderful. It’s the perfect tool to help you center your focus and really get into the practice of spending time in the scripture and allowing it to transform you. It’s just a fabulous tool. These devotionals are crafted for the journal.
Today we will be meditating on Mark Chapter 1, verses 16-18. And we’ll read the passage a couple of times. Then you can stop, read the verse on your own, and really meditate on it. Be thinking about what God’s Word is saying and why he’s saying it.
Mark 1:16-18 (NIV)
16 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.
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
I love this verse so much because it always shocks me how willingly they just dropped everything to follow him. They didn’t argue with him. They didn’t make excuses. They didn’t think he was crazy. They didn’t ask him to come back on a different day. They just obeyed. It was just simple. He had a command. They listened, and they obeyed.
And while the Disciples were far from perfect, and we have so many examples of them just messing up over and over again, they were men who were committed to Jesus through their faith. That’s so amazing. Think about that.
The other thing that really stands out to me about this verse is the fact that before they could even follow Jesus, they had to drop their nets. They had to drop everything that they knew. They had to drop their comforts and their distractions to know Jesus and make him know. And maybe they didn’t even know what they were getting themselves into. But they took the first step. They abandoned what they were doing, what was making them money, what was known to them, so that they could go and know Jesus. That is powerful, and that is so cool.
So, take a moment, and in the Meditate section, write out what God is saying in this verse. What are the spiritual principles here?
Now, look back over the scripture. Think about how this applies to your life, personally and specifically. In the Apply section, write down whatever stands out to you about this verse. I just shared some of the things that stand out to me, but maybe ask yourself, what is God asking you to drop to make you a better disciple? And are you willing to let go of the things that you’re holding on to that prevent you from following Jesus? So, take a moment and apply the scripture.
Now, let’s respond to God. What action can you take this week to bring this verse to life? What nets can you practice dropping this week? In the Respond section of your journal page, go ahead and write down your response to God.
Finally, we are going to close out in prayer. I will pray first, and then you’re going to take a couple of minutes, and in the Pray section, write your own prayer and close out this devotional by yourself. Let’s pray.
God, please make us better disciples. Help us to drop the things that we are holding onto so tightly and make more room in our lives for you. Maybe we’re holding on to something emotional like fear or doubt. Or maybe it’s a job that’s pulling us away, or a friend group, or a relationship. Help us to drop our nets and follow you with full hearts. We are not perfect, but we know that our faith is the most valuable thing to you. Thank you for your constant love and your constant grace as you forgive us daily, moment to moment, and give us more chances than we are even deserving of. In Jesus’ name, amen.