Drop the Net: Why Following Jesus Means Letting Go Mark 1:16-20

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

We are in the Gospel of Mark. Go to the website and grab the Scripture Journal for this study so you can study along with us.

Our shout-out today goes to Tim Salvesen from Carver, MN! Thank you for being a monthly partner, Tim. You rock my face off. I hope you enjoy this devotional today.

Today, we’re reading Mark 1:16-20:

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. — Mark 1:16-20

Jesus didn’t give these men a detailed plan.
He didn’t give a lecture or a checklist.
He gave a simple, life-altering invitation: “Follow me.”

No resume required. No spiritual degree. Just ordinary fishermen—busy working, heads down, doing life. Jesus walks up and flips their world upside down with two words.

And here’s the wild part—they dropped everything.
Nets. Boats. Family. Comfort. Security.
Gone in an instant. Because when Jesus calls, obedience can’t be delayed.

He didn’t just invite them to believe something—He invited them to become something.
"Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
He wasn’t offering a career change. He was offering transformation. A new mission. A new identity.

That’s what following Jesus always does. It interrupts. It costs. But it also creates.
He doesn’t call you to a better version of yourself—He calls you into a whole new purpose.

And notice the pattern: He calls. They respond.
No stalling. No excuses. No “let me check my schedule.” Just immediate obedience. That’s the power of Jesus’ voice—it cuts through the noise and speaks straight to the soul.

So, what do you need to drop to become someone different in Jesus today?

#FollowJesus, #RadicalObedience, #FishersOfMen

ASK THIS:
What is Jesus asking me to drop in this season?

Do I respond to Jesus immediately or with hesitation?

How does my identity change when I follow Jesus fully?

Am I more focused on comfort or on His calling?

DO THIS:
Drop the one thing today that’s delaying your full obedience to Jesus.

PRAY THIS:
Jesus, give me the courage to drop what’s familiar and follow you without delay. Make me into who you’ve called me to be. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.