20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-22.
Was Jesus’ words “Follow Me” an irresistible command or a resistable invitation?
Let us examine this Scripture. First, we note the absence of the word “If” in front of “Follow Me” and the absence of “then” in front of “I will make you fishers of men”. Second, we also note the effect of Jesus’ words. They immediately followed Him. Third, we note the comparison between what Peter and Andrew left versus what James and John left. We note that Peter and Andrew only left their nets. Whereas, James and John left much more valuable “items” that would be harder to leave: the boat and their father.
Let us examine other Scripture. “Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?” Romans 9:21. A Potter does not invite his clay to choose whether or not it will comply. The clay becomes whatever the Potter makes it. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. Likewise, we perform whatever works God created us and prepared us to do.
As Reformed believers, we believe in the doctrine of salvation summarized by the acronym “TULIP” including “I” of “Irresistible Grace”. Is it any more difficult to believe that God can and does irresistably command and cause us to follow Him and do whatever works that He causes us to do than it is to believe that He irresistably saves us?
In conclusion, this should give us great comfort and assurance that “… He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 