Simon and Andrew, James and John, are called to become fishers of men (Mark 1:16-20). They had known and believed in Jesus before, but now they must follow and be with Him. Boats, nets, father—their earthly property, their ordinary occupation, their natural relationship—must yield to the call of Jesus. Not that all are called to go after Jesus thus; but assuredly it is the Holy Ghost who leads the soul that is born again to call Him Lord. Is this confession to be real or is it unmeaning?

By His blood we are redeemed to God. We are not our own; we are bought with a price. He is our Lord; not only in great things, but in the smallest matters of everyday life. And I am sure that a crisis comes in the history of believing souls, when they must be put to the proof how far this is true in their experience. For Satan does seek to tempt us, out of the happy place of servants of Christ, to make ourselves lords, as it were.

Are we seeking our own interests, our own pleasure, our own ease? Are we struggling for our own will? Are we seeking to be something in the world, or, at any rate, something in the church? What is this but to be lords instead of servants? But to own Him as Lord, to do His will, this is our proper business. For this we are saved. This is what He died for; and this is what we ought to live for—to own Jesus Lord. To live for ourselves in anything is to defraud Him of His rights; and it is to deny Him, so far, the great price He paid to make us His.

—From Exposition of Mark's Gospel, by William Kelly.