Immediately

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. Matthew 4:21-22

Can't you smell this scene?

The smell of the water, the pungency of fish, and the perspiration of hard-working men. This is what these men had known their whole lives. They were fisherman, just like their father. And it appears that they were successful fisherman (Mark 1:20).

On this day, like so many others, someone came walking along the shore. But this wasn’t just anyone; it was the One Who created the shore, the water, and the men in the boats. It was Jesus. He paused and issued a call to James and John. He may have used the same words He had just used with Peter and Andrew: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The call was CLEAR. There was no mistaking what they heard from Jesus.

The call was COSTLY. To follow this call would mean leaving what they knew—fishing—and leaving one that they loved—their father.

The call was CONSUMING. This was not a trial run that Jesus was inviting them to. No, they were to be all in. To fully follow Him.

I love how they responded: "They immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him."

Immediately! That's the key. That's how we're supposed to follow, as well.

When Jesus gives instructions or a command, we must follow and obey immediately.

Dear Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Help us to follow Jesus like these brothers did so long ago. May there be no hesitation on our part whatsoever. Please help us to follow immediately and completely. In Jesus' Name, we pray, Amen.