“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. - Mark 1:17–18

When the United States began its space program in 1958, seven men were chosen to become the first astronauts. Imagine the excitement of Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. They were chosen to go where no one had ever gone before—outer space!

They knew they would face new dangers and challenges. The thrill of being picked was tempered with the fear of the unknown. In fact, one of them, Gus Grissom, died in 1967 when a fire broke out in a command module.

Think of another set of men who were chosen for a vital mis- sion: the twelve men Jesus chose as His disciples. These men left behind their jobs and families to follow a radical new teacher. They didn’t know what kind of scary challenges they would face. Yet they joined up with Jesus.

Jesus is still asking us to join Him. He asks us to follow Him, love Him, obey Him, and tell others about Him. Like the apostles, we don’t know what our commitment to Jesus might bring, but we know the rewards are great.

Lord, help me to follow you faithfully and trust you completely. I wonder what kind of disciple I would have been.