EPIPHANY DEVOTIONS — YEAR A
WEEK 4 — CALLED TO FOLLOW
January 26 – February 1, 2026
Last week, we reflected on how God reveals Himself through the unlikely — the elderly, the overlooked, the outcast. Their stories reminded us that spiritual sight does not depend on social status but on a heart ready to receive revelation.
This week, that revelation takes the next step: invitation. Jesus is no longer a baby being recognized in the temple or a teacher quietly transforming water into wine. He begins His public ministry by calling ordinary people to follow Him — fishermen, tax collectors, skeptics, and seekers.
Their responses vary. Some drop everything immediately. Some ask questions first. Others walk away sorrowful. But through each encounter, we see that discipleship always begins with a simple call: “Follow me.”
Following Jesus is not merely about belief; it’s about movement — leaving behind what’s familiar to pursue a relationship that will redefine everything. In these stories, we’ll explore what it means to drop our nets, go deeper, count the cost, and sometimes even come down from the places we’ve climbed to feel secure.
This Week’s Focus: The Call that Changes Everything
Every disciple’s journey begins with one invitation and one decision. The question echoing across this week’s readings is the same one Jesus asked on the shores of Galilee:
Will you follow Me — wherever I lead?
WEEK 4 — CALLED TO FOLLOW
DAY 22 — Dropping Nets
Monday - Scripture: Matthew 4:19-20
"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him."
In 2015, Sara Blakely was one of the youngest self-made female billionaires, having built Spanx into a global empire. At the height of her success, she received an invitation to join the Giving Pledge—committing to donate most of her wealth to philanthropy.
Many advisors told her to wait, to build more wealth first, to think about her own family's future. But Sara said: "I realized I was holding onto my nets when Jesus was calling me to something bigger. The security I thought I needed was actually keeping me from the adventure God had for me."
She signed the pledge and began redirecting her business toward social impact. "I thought I was giving up security," she said, "but I actually found freedom I never knew was possible."
Reflection:
Simon and Andrew were successful fishermen with established businesses, regular income, and predictable futures. When Jesus said "Follow me," they could have asked for a business plan, a timeline, or at least a job description.
Instead, they dropped their nets immediately. They recognized that following Jesus meant leaving behind not just their occupation, but their entire way of thinking about security and success.
What "nets" might God be asking you to drop? What seeming security might be keeping you from the adventure He has planned?
Prayer:
Lord, give me courage to drop my nets when You call.
Help me trust that following You is more secure than any safety I can create for myself.
Show me what I'm holding onto that keeps me from fully following You.
Amen.
DAY 23 — The Overwhelming Catch
Tuesday - Scripture: Luke 5:4-7
"When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break."
In 1962, Sam Walton was running a small variety store in Arkansas when he had an idea for a different kind of retail store—one that offered lower prices by keeping overhead costs down. Every expert told him it wouldn't work in rural areas.
Banks refused to loan him money. Competitors dismissed his concept as naive.
But Walton believed in his vision. He mortgaged his house, borrowed from family, and opened his first Walmart in 1962. The concept was so successful that he had to quickly figure out how to manage rapid growth.
By the time he died, Walmart was the largest retailer in the world.
Walton later said: "Sometimes you have to go into deep water to find what you're really capable of catching. The shallow water is safe, but it's also empty."
Reflection:
Peter was an experienced fisherman who had worked all night without catching anything. When Jesus told him to try again in deeper water, Peter's expertise said it was pointless. But his relationship with Jesus made him willing to try anyway.
The result wasn't just a good catch—it was so overwhelming that it broke their nets and required help from other boats. When we follow Jesus into deeper waters, He often provides more than we can handle with our existing capacity.
Where might Jesus be calling you to "go deeper" in an area where you've already tried and failed?
Prayer:
Lord, help me trust Your guidance even when my experience says otherwise.
Give me faith to cast my nets in deeper waters when You direct me.
Prepare me for blessings that might overwhelm my current capacity to receive them.
Amen.
DAY 24 — Following from the Tax Booth
Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 9:9-10
"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples."
In 1995, John Delony was making excellent money as a tax attorney for wealthy clients, but he felt increasingly empty. He was good at his job, but he knew he was helping rich people avoid paying their fair share while working families struggled.
One day, while volunteering at a crisis center, he met a counselor who challenged him: "What if you used your analytical skills to help people heal instead of helping them hide money?"
That conversation changed everything.
John went back to school for counseling, took a massive pay cut, and eventually became a mental health advocate and author. He said: "I thought following Jesus meant giving up my skills. Instead, He redeemed them for something better."
Reflection:
Matthew was despised by his community as a tax collector—someone who collaborated with Roman oppressors and got rich by overcharging his neighbors. When Jesus called him, Matthew didn't just leave his job; he immediately threw a party and invited his tax collector friends to meet Jesus.
Jesus didn't ask Matthew to abandon his social connections or pretend to be someone else. Instead, Matthew used his network to introduce others to Jesus.
How might God want to redeem your professional skills, social connections, or life experiences for His purposes?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see how You can use my background and connections for Your kingdom.
Give me Matthew's immediate obedience when You call me.
Show me how to introduce others in my world to You.
Amen.
DAY 25 — Come and See
Thursday - Scripture: John 1:43-46
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"
In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook would donate $100 million to improve Newark's struggling school system. Education experts and community leaders were skeptical.
Silicon Valley hadn't solved education problems before. Why would this be different?
But Cory Booker, Newark's mayor at the time, convinced people to give it a chance. "I don't care where good ideas come from," he said. "I care whether they work. Instead of arguing about whether this will succeed, let's try it and see what happens."
While the initiative faced challenges, it did lead to innovations that have since been replicated in other cities.
Booker later said: "Sometimes the best response to skepticism is not argument, but invitation: 'Come and see what's actually happening.'"
Reflection:
Nathanael's prejudice against Nazareth was probably based on experience—it was a small, insignificant town with a bad reputation. When Philip told him the Messiah was from there, Nathanael's first response was skepticism.
Philip didn't argue theology or try to overcome Nathanael's prejudice with logic. He simply said, "Come and see." He knew that personal encounter with Jesus would overcome any preconceived notions.
Who in your life might need an invitation to "come and see" rather than an argument about faith?
Prayer:
Lord, help me be more interested in inviting people to encounter You than in winning arguments about You.
Give me Philip's confidence that You can overcome any skepticism.
Show me who needs a simple invitation to "come and see" what You're doing.
Amen.
DAY 26 — Counting the Cost
Friday - Scripture: Luke 14:28-30
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
In 2006, Blake Mycoskie was traveling in Argentina when he saw children who had no shoes. He had an idea to start a company that would give away a pair of shoes for every pair sold.
Friends told him it was financially impossible—the math didn't work for a sustainable business.
But Blake sat down and did the calculations differently. Instead of thinking about maximum profit, he calculated the minimum viable profit needed to sustain both business operations and giving. He factored in the marketing value of the giving model and the employee satisfaction it would create.
TOMS Shoes became hugely successful, giving away over 100 million shoes worldwide. Blake said: "I did count the cost—I just counted different costs than most people would have considered."
Reflection:
Jesus wasn't discouraging people from following Him—He was making sure they understood what they were getting into. Following Christ isn't just about an initial decision; it's about a lifestyle that requires ongoing commitment.
But notice what Jesus asks us to count: not whether we can afford to follow Him, but whether we can afford NOT to follow Him. What's the cost of building our lives on any other foundation?
What would it look like to honestly count both the cost of following Jesus and the cost of not following Him?
Prayer:
Lord, help me count the true cost of discipleship—and the true cost of not following You.
Give me wisdom to build my life on a foundation that will last.
Make me willing to pay the price of authentic discipleship. Amen.
DAY 27 — The Rich Young Ruler's Choice
Saturday - Scripture: Mark 10:21-22
"Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions."
In 1930, Milton Hershey was one of the wealthiest men in America when the Great Depression hit. While other business leaders were cutting wages and laying off workers, Hershey did the opposite. He launched a massive construction project in his town, creating jobs and investing his personal fortune in community development.
His advisors were horrified. "You'll bankrupt yourself," they warned. But Hershey said: "What's the point of having wealth if you can't use it to help people when they need it most?" He spent millions keeping his community employed and fed during the worst economic crisis in American history.
Hershey not only survived the Depression—his company emerged stronger than ever, and his town became a model of corporate responsibility.
Reflection:
Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and loved him. This wasn't a harsh judgment but a loving invitation to freedom. The man's possessions weren't evil—they had become his master. Jesus offered him the chance to become truly free.
The man went away grieving because he couldn't imagine life without his wealth. But Jesus grieved too, because He could see the abundant life the man was choosing to miss.
What possessions, achievements, or securities might be keeping you from the freedom Jesus offers?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my possessions as tools for Your purposes, not masters over my heart.
Give me the freedom to hold everything loosely.
Show me what I need to release to follow You more fully.
Amen.
DAY 28 — Zacchaeus Climbs Down
Sunday - Scripture: Luke 19:5-8
"When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.' So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, 'He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.' Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, 'Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.'"
In 2017, Dan Price, CEO of Gravity Payments, made a shocking announcement: he would cut his own salary from $1.1 million to $70,000 and raise every employee's minimum wage to $70,000. Critics called it a publicity stunt that would bankrupt the company.
The decision cost Price personally—he had to sell his stocks and rent out his house to make ends meet. Some employees actually quit, thinking the policy was unsustainable. But Price said: "I realized I had been taking money that belonged to the people who were actually doing the work."
Three years later, employee turnover had dropped dramatically, productivity had increased, and the company was more profitable than ever. Price said: "Coming down from my financial tree was the best business decision I ever made."
Reflection:
Zacchaeus was literally up a tree—and figuratively up a tree. As a chief tax collector, he was isolated by his wealth and hated by his community. When Jesus called him down, Zacchaeus didn't just climb down from the sycamore tree; he climbed down from his economic and social position.
His response was immediate and radical: give half to the poor, restore four times what he had stolen. Jesus didn't demand this—it was Zacchaeus's joyful response to being seen and accepted.
Where might Jesus be calling you to "come down" from a position that isolates you from authentic community?
Prayer:
Lord, like Zacchaeus, help me recognize when my position is keeping me from true fellowship.
Give me joy in descending from places of isolation to places of authentic relationship.
Show me how to use my resources to restore rather than exploit.
Amen.
WEEK 4 — CALLED TO FOLLOW
January 26 – February 1, 2026
Last week, we reflected on how God reveals Himself through the unlikely — the elderly, the overlooked, the outcast. Their stories reminded us that spiritual sight does not depend on social status but on a heart ready to receive revelation.
This week, that revelation takes the next step: invitation. Jesus is no longer a baby being recognized in the temple or a teacher quietly transforming water into wine. He begins His public ministry by calling ordinary people to follow Him — fishermen, tax collectors, skeptics, and seekers.
Their responses vary. Some drop everything immediately. Some ask questions first. Others walk away sorrowful. But through each encounter, we see that discipleship always begins with a simple call: “Follow me.”
Following Jesus is not merely about belief; it’s about movement — leaving behind what’s familiar to pursue a relationship that will redefine everything. In these stories, we’ll explore what it means to drop our nets, go deeper, count the cost, and sometimes even come down from the places we’ve climbed to feel secure.
This Week’s Focus: The Call that Changes Everything
Every disciple’s journey begins with one invitation and one decision. The question echoing across this week’s readings is the same one Jesus asked on the shores of Galilee:
Will you follow Me — wherever I lead?
WEEK 4 — CALLED TO FOLLOW
DAY 22 — Dropping Nets
Monday - Scripture: Matthew 4:19-20
"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him."
In 2015, Sara Blakely was one of the youngest self-made female billionaires, having built Spanx into a global empire. At the height of her success, she received an invitation to join the Giving Pledge—committing to donate most of her wealth to philanthropy.
Many advisors told her to wait, to build more wealth first, to think about her own family's future. But Sara said: "I realized I was holding onto my nets when Jesus was calling me to something bigger. The security I thought I needed was actually keeping me from the adventure God had for me."
She signed the pledge and began redirecting her business toward social impact. "I thought I was giving up security," she said, "but I actually found freedom I never knew was possible."
Reflection:
Simon and Andrew were successful fishermen with established businesses, regular income, and predictable futures. When Jesus said "Follow me," they could have asked for a business plan, a timeline, or at least a job description.
Instead, they dropped their nets immediately. They recognized that following Jesus meant leaving behind not just their occupation, but their entire way of thinking about security and success.
What "nets" might God be asking you to drop? What seeming security might be keeping you from the adventure He has planned?
Prayer:
Lord, give me courage to drop my nets when You call.
Help me trust that following You is more secure than any safety I can create for myself.
Show me what I'm holding onto that keeps me from fully following You.
Amen.
DAY 23 — The Overwhelming Catch
Tuesday - Scripture: Luke 5:4-7
"When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break."
In 1962, Sam Walton was running a small variety store in Arkansas when he had an idea for a different kind of retail store—one that offered lower prices by keeping overhead costs down. Every expert told him it wouldn't work in rural areas.
Banks refused to loan him money. Competitors dismissed his concept as naive.
But Walton believed in his vision. He mortgaged his house, borrowed from family, and opened his first Walmart in 1962. The concept was so successful that he had to quickly figure out how to manage rapid growth.
By the time he died, Walmart was the largest retailer in the world.
Walton later said: "Sometimes you have to go into deep water to find what you're really capable of catching. The shallow water is safe, but it's also empty."
Reflection:
Peter was an experienced fisherman who had worked all night without catching anything. When Jesus told him to try again in deeper water, Peter's expertise said it was pointless. But his relationship with Jesus made him willing to try anyway.
The result wasn't just a good catch—it was so overwhelming that it broke their nets and required help from other boats. When we follow Jesus into deeper waters, He often provides more than we can handle with our existing capacity.
Where might Jesus be calling you to "go deeper" in an area where you've already tried and failed?
Prayer:
Lord, help me trust Your guidance even when my experience says otherwise.
Give me faith to cast my nets in deeper waters when You direct me.
Prepare me for blessings that might overwhelm my current capacity to receive them.
Amen.
DAY 24 — Following from the Tax Booth
Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 9:9-10
"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples."
In 1995, John Delony was making excellent money as a tax attorney for wealthy clients, but he felt increasingly empty. He was good at his job, but he knew he was helping rich people avoid paying their fair share while working families struggled.
One day, while volunteering at a crisis center, he met a counselor who challenged him: "What if you used your analytical skills to help people heal instead of helping them hide money?"
That conversation changed everything.
John went back to school for counseling, took a massive pay cut, and eventually became a mental health advocate and author. He said: "I thought following Jesus meant giving up my skills. Instead, He redeemed them for something better."
Reflection:
Matthew was despised by his community as a tax collector—someone who collaborated with Roman oppressors and got rich by overcharging his neighbors. When Jesus called him, Matthew didn't just leave his job; he immediately threw a party and invited his tax collector friends to meet Jesus.
Jesus didn't ask Matthew to abandon his social connections or pretend to be someone else. Instead, Matthew used his network to introduce others to Jesus.
How might God want to redeem your professional skills, social connections, or life experiences for His purposes?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see how You can use my background and connections for Your kingdom.
Give me Matthew's immediate obedience when You call me.
Show me how to introduce others in my world to You.
Amen.
DAY 25 — Come and See
Thursday - Scripture: John 1:43-46
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"
In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook would donate $100 million to improve Newark's struggling school system. Education experts and community leaders were skeptical.
Silicon Valley hadn't solved education problems before. Why would this be different?
But Cory Booker, Newark's mayor at the time, convinced people to give it a chance. "I don't care where good ideas come from," he said. "I care whether they work. Instead of arguing about whether this will succeed, let's try it and see what happens."
While the initiative faced challenges, it did lead to innovations that have since been replicated in other cities.
Booker later said: "Sometimes the best response to skepticism is not argument, but invitation: 'Come and see what's actually happening.'"
Reflection:
Nathanael's prejudice against Nazareth was probably based on experience—it was a small, insignificant town with a bad reputation. When Philip told him the Messiah was from there, Nathanael's first response was skepticism.
Philip didn't argue theology or try to overcome Nathanael's prejudice with logic. He simply said, "Come and see." He knew that personal encounter with Jesus would overcome any preconceived notions.
Who in your life might need an invitation to "come and see" rather than an argument about faith?
Prayer:
Lord, help me be more interested in inviting people to encounter You than in winning arguments about You.
Give me Philip's confidence that You can overcome any skepticism.
Show me who needs a simple invitation to "come and see" what You're doing.
Amen.
DAY 26 — Counting the Cost
Friday - Scripture: Luke 14:28-30
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
In 2006, Blake Mycoskie was traveling in Argentina when he saw children who had no shoes. He had an idea to start a company that would give away a pair of shoes for every pair sold.
Friends told him it was financially impossible—the math didn't work for a sustainable business.
But Blake sat down and did the calculations differently. Instead of thinking about maximum profit, he calculated the minimum viable profit needed to sustain both business operations and giving. He factored in the marketing value of the giving model and the employee satisfaction it would create.
TOMS Shoes became hugely successful, giving away over 100 million shoes worldwide. Blake said: "I did count the cost—I just counted different costs than most people would have considered."
Reflection:
Jesus wasn't discouraging people from following Him—He was making sure they understood what they were getting into. Following Christ isn't just about an initial decision; it's about a lifestyle that requires ongoing commitment.
But notice what Jesus asks us to count: not whether we can afford to follow Him, but whether we can afford NOT to follow Him. What's the cost of building our lives on any other foundation?
What would it look like to honestly count both the cost of following Jesus and the cost of not following Him?
Prayer:
Lord, help me count the true cost of discipleship—and the true cost of not following You.
Give me wisdom to build my life on a foundation that will last.
Make me willing to pay the price of authentic discipleship. Amen.
DAY 27 — The Rich Young Ruler's Choice
Saturday - Scripture: Mark 10:21-22
"Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions."
In 1930, Milton Hershey was one of the wealthiest men in America when the Great Depression hit. While other business leaders were cutting wages and laying off workers, Hershey did the opposite. He launched a massive construction project in his town, creating jobs and investing his personal fortune in community development.
His advisors were horrified. "You'll bankrupt yourself," they warned. But Hershey said: "What's the point of having wealth if you can't use it to help people when they need it most?" He spent millions keeping his community employed and fed during the worst economic crisis in American history.
Hershey not only survived the Depression—his company emerged stronger than ever, and his town became a model of corporate responsibility.
Reflection:
Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and loved him. This wasn't a harsh judgment but a loving invitation to freedom. The man's possessions weren't evil—they had become his master. Jesus offered him the chance to become truly free.
The man went away grieving because he couldn't imagine life without his wealth. But Jesus grieved too, because He could see the abundant life the man was choosing to miss.
What possessions, achievements, or securities might be keeping you from the freedom Jesus offers?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my possessions as tools for Your purposes, not masters over my heart.
Give me the freedom to hold everything loosely.
Show me what I need to release to follow You more fully.
Amen.
DAY 28 — Zacchaeus Climbs Down
Sunday - Scripture: Luke 19:5-8
"When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.' So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, 'He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.' Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, 'Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.'"
In 2017, Dan Price, CEO of Gravity Payments, made a shocking announcement: he would cut his own salary from $1.1 million to $70,000 and raise every employee's minimum wage to $70,000. Critics called it a publicity stunt that would bankrupt the company.
The decision cost Price personally—he had to sell his stocks and rent out his house to make ends meet. Some employees actually quit, thinking the policy was unsustainable. But Price said: "I realized I had been taking money that belonged to the people who were actually doing the work."
Three years later, employee turnover had dropped dramatically, productivity had increased, and the company was more profitable than ever. Price said: "Coming down from my financial tree was the best business decision I ever made."
Reflection:
Zacchaeus was literally up a tree—and figuratively up a tree. As a chief tax collector, he was isolated by his wealth and hated by his community. When Jesus called him down, Zacchaeus didn't just climb down from the sycamore tree; he climbed down from his economic and social position.
His response was immediate and radical: give half to the poor, restore four times what he had stolen. Jesus didn't demand this—it was Zacchaeus's joyful response to being seen and accepted.
Where might Jesus be calling you to "come down" from a position that isolates you from authentic community?
Prayer:
Lord, like Zacchaeus, help me recognize when my position is keeping me from true fellowship.
Give me joy in descending from places of isolation to places of authentic relationship.
Show me how to use my resources to restore rather than exploit.
Amen.
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