An Invitation Extended To Some Fishermen

To Come. To follow. To Believe. Part-2

When Jesus extended the invitation, “Come, follow me,” He was not asking us to find our own way or to walk without difficulty. He was inviting us to walk in His footsteps, to trust Him, and to learn from the life He lived.

Following is not about the destination. It requires a willingness to move in a suggested direction, even when the path ahead is unfamiliar. Sometimes we may understand the next step and follow in faith. But more often, we may only know whom we are following, or lean into curiosity- wanting to believe. 

The simple concept, an invitation to follow, was extended to some fishermen thousands of years prior to my experience in the snow. A couple of men had cast their nets out from their fishing boat. A bit farther down the coast, two brothers were repairing nets with their father, proceeding to return to their boat to fish. Jesus, walking the shores, needed apostles. He needed men who were willing to leave behind everything they knew and thought they wanted with their lives. He needed men who were willing to follow the invitation to come – to listen, to learn, and to leave their concerns for self in exchange for a multitude of unknowns.

These men, called of Christ, would come to learn that the unknown is where all of their incredibly amazing, hard, and most blessed days of the future existed, defined by discipleship. 

When Christ called them, He asked them to leave their nets, follow Him, and become fishers of men. They would become the Savior’s extension of himself as he taught them to teach, minister, and love alongside Him. Each of them embarked on a legacy of discipleship, initiated by a commitment to come and follow Christ. 

Jesus didn’t need wealthy men. He didn’t need the most well-read or accomplished men.
He needed those who were willing to answer the call-
To come,
To follow,
To believe,
To love –
As they had never understood before. 

-JC

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup soft butter
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg and 2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
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3 cups milk (or semi-sweet) chocolate chips
1 ½ tablespoons creamy peanut butter

• In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil, and brown sugar until well combined.
• Mix in the egg, egg yolks, and vanilla just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Add dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until just combined.
• Divide or scoop dough into 30 equal balls. (approximately 1.65 oz. each)
• Gently roll into a ball and  place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 12 minutes.
• Let cool completely.
• Melt chocolate chips with peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl for 30+ seconds until it can be stirred smooth. 
• Spoon a tablespoon size dollop of chocolate mixture onto a parchment sheet. Gently press the cooled cookie onto the dollop and gently press while turning until chocolate presents to the edge of the cookie. Repeat for each cookie.
• Drizzle tops with remaining chocolate mixture.
• Let set. Share!