Immediately.
What are some things you do immediately?
When we first moved into our new house, every time I cooked bacon, the fire alarm would go off. We would IMMEDIATELY go to the alarm and take out the batteries. Don’t worry we put them back- hence the “every time.” I have learned since then to open a window when I am going to cook bacon.
But immediately. I don’t know that I do anything immediately. It’s more like when I am ready… or better when I feel like it.
Unless something- like a fire alarm- demands my immediate attention.
So, when I was reading my Bible this morning, I kept getting drawn to the word immediately in the Gospel of Matthew. When Jesus called His first disciples, IMMEDIATELY they left their nets; IMMEDIATELY the left their boats.
So, I was curious. How often is the word immediately used in the Gospels? Well, I went to my favorite search tool- Google (I know very scholar-like of me, but hey it works!)- and learned that in the Gospel of Mark, Mark uses the word immediately 41 times! Ya’ll there’s only 16 chapters in Mark!
Mark obviously saw some urgency in sharing the Gospel. This was believed to be the first Gospel in circulation, thus there was an immediate need to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!
HOWEVER, there still is an immediate need to share it! People need to hear this Good News; the news that will change their lives (and eternity).
Immediately, at once… when Jesus called, they responded.
No time to go bury their living, aging parents (Matthew 8:21-22). At once; immediately.
We all have excuses.
We all have things going on in our lives.
But when Jesus calls us, He does not mean when it is convenient for you. He means now.
Respond to him the same way you would respond to a fire alarm.
And if you do not know what God’s will is for your life- here’s a start. Love God. Love People. Share God’s love with all people (go make disciples of all nations…)
(In case you are reading another version of the Bible- I am reading from the ESV. Some other versions use the words “At once.” Same message but with a different word used in the translation. The Greek word was the adverb euthus.)