Don’t You Think is another song I wrote with Andrew Osenga. I had explained to him some of what I wanted the record to sound like, and he immediately started playing this great guitar part. So I grabbed my iPhone and turned on the recorder. He played the progression again and started to sing. At the end he apologized for and I quote, “smashing, like, three different Bible stories together.” Okay, maybe the theology wasn’t pristine on the first take, but I loved the beginning of the song… “Peter cast his nets on the water.”
And I began to wonder, what IS the rest of this story?
18 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
We find this story in Matthew 4. Two brothers are fishing, plying the trade they had been trained their whole lives for. Jesus comes by, invites them, and they leave everything. Because He helped them catch a lot of fish?
They left and followed because He offered them more. More than they had. More than they hoped. More than they dreamed.
I was shocked the day I found out that He made the same offer to the rich young ruler. His invitation is the same, “Follow me.” But the young man held so tightly to the things he had that he couldn’t leave them. He missed out on the opportunity to be a disciple of Jesus because he couldn’t leave his wealth.
Jesus offers a life with Him that is more than anything we have. More than the fishermen’s careers and families. More than the young man’s wealth. More than everything I have. If we will follow.
Thoughts?
Todd
Here are the stories behind the other songs on #H2BL.
Don’t You Think
Your Great Name
I really love this song, both the music and lyrics. For most of my life, following was a struggle. The bad part is that I didn’t know it was a struggle because I thought I WAS following God. I came to realize that when I got impatient, impulsive, or had an exciting ministry opportunity to pursue, I jumped out ahead of God and blazed my own path, expecting him to bless my activity. It took a long time for me to see what I was doing, and an even longer time to change my behavior. As I look back with 20/20 vision, I can see the reason for much of the stress and suffering I experienced was my failure to follow. Now, I’ve slowed down a bit and am leaning in closer to God so I can follow where He is going, trying not to act like an impatient child asking, “Are we there yet?” And for those times when my first impulse is to rush ahead, I have a plaque right by my front door that reminds me, “Dear Child, it’s not following unless you let me go first. Love, God.”
Now I have a great song to listen to as a reminder to look for the better way and follow.
I really liked this song and was excited to find the chords posted today so I could Jam along with ya. It really is a great way of posing the question of don’t you think there is more to this life? For the longest time, until around thanksgiving 2011 I lived my life for me. My life was filled with lonesliness, partying and all that that life entails, and a lust for the things of this world that was just starting to eat at me. I went to church, even helped chaperone at the local christian camp(even helped the production team move your equipment from Jackson to Camp Wesley Pines), and in a strange way thought I was following Jesus even if I was carrying all this junk around with me. Then one day, well over the course of many days and nights of the Holy Spirit ministering to me, Jesus offered me another way. I was always afraid of what my life would be like if I gave up all those things I was clinging to and traded them for Jesus. Well in short, His way is way better, it is a better way, a new life that satisfies and heals. While the restoration is still in progress(he really remaodels our whole life!), I love my life in Christ, and my world and comfort is in serving HIM!! I have a little breakfast at the lake here in town, whoever can come eat and fellowship, and hear some music and hear the word of the Lord if they choose to stay after breakfast and listen. I have been having someone else play music, but one day he won’t be able to make it and this will be one of the songs that I will be playing for those couple of folks who come to hear about Jesus, and it sets the stage for a wonderful message of Christ redemption and what he can make our lives about