Serious Fishing Competition
Then He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ~ MATTHEW 4:19 (NKJV)
I enjoy fishing, but I have never been in a fishing competition or tournament. I refer to all my fishing equipment as “underachievers.” You see, I usually don’t catch many fish. But I tell my wife, Judy, that I catch the smart ones; the ones that are the hardest to catch.
You and I are expected to follow the fishing instructions Jesus gave to Simon, Andrew, James, and John. That is, we are to be “fishers of men.” Unlike regular fishermen, Jesus does not want us to use bait or lures to catch potential recruits for Him. Instead, He tells us to “cast a net,” the Gospel, over those we encounter. During that time of sharing the Gospel, we should also give our own personal account of what Jesus has done in our lives.
No one said all this would be easy. What makes it more difficult is that we are competing against Satan, who is also fishing. Satan is not about casting a net; he is all about using baits and lures to entrap us and pull us away from the way Jesus wants us to live. Satan is constantly fishing. In 1 John 2:15-16 (NRSV), John tells us the three baits that Satan uses to entice us. These are (1) desire of the flesh, (2) desire of the eyes, and (3) pride in riches. Satan doesn’t need to use any other bait because those three have worked well for thousands of years.
As long as we concentrate on being fishers of men every day and remain diligent of Satan’s methods, we can better equip ourselves. We will also be better able to instruct others on how to be strong in their faith. Remember, the competition is constant.
As fishers of men, we are not restricted to certain areas or times of the year. The fishing area (mission field) is right outside our front door and everywhere else, and it’s open season all year long. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, it then became our job to continue His work on earth. So cast your net as Jesus told us to do. And if you get nothing in your net, keep trying. As fishers of men, imagine if each of us could successfully cast a net over one or more people each year. Fishers of men are greatly needed — no bait required.
Lord, you have equipped us to be fishers of men. Lead us daily along your paths and away from the ways of the evil one. Show us where to cast our nets. Amen.
TED FRETT, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH