Summary: Andrew was the first disciple to be called by Jesus Christ. And as the Scriptures tells us, he immediately left his nets and followed Jesus. What some listening may be unfamiliar with, is Andrew’s death. Valerius Herberger writes of Andrew and the early disciples, “To them, Jesus is now the most precious one on earth- according to His mind they learn, according to His words they teach, according to His will they live, according to His decree they suffer and die. When St. Andrew was threatened with the cross, he said joyfully, ‘If I feared the punishment of the cross, I would never have preached the mystery of the cross.’ Then when he saw the cross, he spoke, ‘Hail, precious cross, you who were dedicated by the body of Christ; may He receive me through you, who redeemed me through you.’ And when he was living after three days on the cross, his hearers wanted to take him down by force, but he said, ‘Ah, let God take care of it! Do not make the peace of the Gospel suspect by your unnecessary revolt against the government.’ That was apostolic constancy and long-suffering! This is what it means to ‘leave everything and follow Christ,’ all the way to the last catch of fish.” Wow! What a testimony. I pray it encourages you to reach your world powerfully today. This is Luis Palau
