The most important invitation in the world is offered in two simple words: "Follow me."

"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 fisherman. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed him" (Matt. 4:18-22); "When He had gone a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay He called to them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him" (Mark 1:19-20); "As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him"(Matt. 9:9); "The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, He said to him, 'Follow me.' Phillip, like Andrew and Peter, was from Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' 'Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?' Nathanael asked. 'Come and see,' said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.' 'How do you know me?' Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.' Then Nathanael declared, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel' " (John 1:43-49); "These are the names of the twelve apostles: First Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him" (Matt. 10:2).

When some of the people began to turn against Jesus, He asked  the twelve, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" and "Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life'" (John 6:67-68). And they followed Him--over long dusty roads, witnessing miracle after miracle, hearing teaching after teaching, all the way to Jerusalem, to the cross, to the empty tomb, and to victory over death itself.

Jesus said, "Follow me," and they followed. They didn't wait until they had cleaned up their lives to be perfect; they didn't wait until they had had their fun and were ready to "grow up"; they didn't wait until a more convenient moment--they got up and followed. Jesus is still issuing the same invitation, and He is still the only One who has the words of eternal life. He appeals to us all: "Follow me." To tell Him to wait is to say "no." No one is guaranteed a tomorrow to clean up or grow up or put things in order. He's not looking for perfect people, only willing people. The time to answer the invitation is now.

Lord Jesus, I have heard Your gracious invitation. Help me to lay down my stuff and follow You. Amen