The Ways of JesusSample

Fish for all the fish who steal your bait

Ashleigh and I went deep sea fishing in 2011. We got on the boat with an expert fisherman and several other people. On the way to our first spot, we stopped to grab some bait, and then we were on our way. We threw some bait on the hook, dropped the line in, and our guide told us to just reel in and see what happens. Time and time again, I would reel in my line, and the hook would be empty. No fish. No bait. Was I failing? I don’t think so. I think it would be a failure if I never tried to fish. I can’t tell the fish to bite the hook. I can’t see exactly want is going on beneath the water. I just have to fish. And for all those fish that steal your bait. You are just setting them up for the next fisherman coming behind you. Someone is going to catch that fish one day.

As we become fishers of men, we have to have the same mentality. The ultimate 'win' isn’t coming back to shore with the boat full of fish. The goal is to fish. Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” I will make you fisherman. He didn’t say, “I will make you fisherman that will catch a lot of fish.” I think Jesus said it this way, because He didn’t want us to rely on the greatness of our fishing abilities. Jesus wants us to be novice fisherman and rely on him to be the expert guide telling us what to do.

When is the last time you went fishing for men? Is there someone in your life right now that you need to throw a line towards? Leave your nets. Follow Jesus. Become fishers of men.