“’Come follow me,’ Jesus said,
‘and I will make you fishers of men.’”
(Mark 1:17)
When I was young, I loved to go fishing. I had three favorite fishing spots – the Little Colorado River near Greer, Christopher Creek near Payson, and Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona. I liked fishing in streams instead of lakes. In lake-fishing, you throw your hook into the water with a bobber on it; then you just sit and watch the bobber until a fish bites. I didn’t like just sitting and watching. I’m too impatient. Of course, if I had a boat I might have liked lake-fishing better.
But in stream-fishing, I kept on the move. I liked getting wet and dirty. I liked getting in the water, walking down the stream and through the brush, looking for the perfect fishing hole. Sometimes the fish hid out under the rocks; other times they liked the running water. I usually tried two or three different baits or lures in each spot – salmon eggs, worms, spinners, z-rays, etc. Then if I got no bites, I went hunting for another fishing hole. Eventually, I found a spot where the fish were biting.
Jesus has called his disciples – you and me – to be fishers of men. We need to go where the fish are instead of waiting for the fish to jump out of the lake. We need to walk down the streams and through the brush in life to look for the fish. We might even try two or three different baits or lures while fishing. And when they’re not biting, God may want us to look for another fishing hole.
Been fishin’ lately?
Heavenly Father,
Thank your for calling me to be one of your disciples.
I recognize, Lord, that I am called to be a fisherman.
Give me a genuine burden for the lost.
And give us a passion for our community.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
