Jesus used a variety of ways to persuade men to follow Him.  Here are seven of the men He called…
 (NASB) Luke 5:27-28 “After that He (Jesus) went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi (Matthew) sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’
28 And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.”

John 1:35-40 tells of Andrew being convinced that Jesus was Messiah after witnessing John the Baptist’s words concerning Jesus and after they spent an afternoon with Jesus.  Andrew could not contain his excitement as he went to find his brother, Simon (Peter).  “We have found the Messiah!” (John 1:42)

Peter, James and John were “persuaded” by Jesus after a great catch of fish and Jesus’ words to them, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”  (Luke 5:1-11)

Jesus found Philip who knew Andrew and Simon Peter…and Philip found his friend Nathanael and brought him to Jesus.

These are seven of the twelve men Jesus called to follow Him.  Seven men got up, left everything to follow Jesus’ personal invitation.  Seven men from various occupations: fishermen, a tax collector, a scholar, and others from different backgrounds…all were Jews who got up and began to follow Jesus.

From what is Jesus calling you?  Is He calling you to turn from your motives, your thoughts, from “business as usual” to follow Him?

Jesus’ invitation to those seven men and later twelve; was an invitation to follow Him…
Jesus’ invitation still stands to all who would follow Him.

Levi (Matthew) and the other men had a choice to make…to continue in their line of work or to follow Jesus.  Jesus’ words are not complicated, indeed they are simple…
“Follow Me”.

During this time between Christmas and a New Year…Jesus is still calling men and women to follow Him.  Jesus Called His Disciples…Then and He does Now.