A Place At The TableSample

The Fishing Net 

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. —Matthew 13:47

When we were kids, many of us begged for bedtime stories about adventures and make-believe worlds. 

As we grew, we never really stopped wanting to tell or hear stories. We still talk about our travel adventures and recount how we met our significant others. We read books and watch movies. No matter who you are or where you come from, it seems we all share a universal love of story.

So it’s no surprise that Jesus often told stories and used vibrant imagery. 

In His agrarian culture Jesus often related to His listeners by using metaphors about farming or fishing. People understood the imagery. In Matthew 13:47, Jesus chose to compare the kingdom of heaven to a fishing net.

Jesus’ imagery of a net was purposeful and not just to relate to the people or culture. It was meant to connect with us too. Picture a net with vast and intricate webbing. A net like this catches all kinds of fish.

The kingdom of God isn’t just for people who are elsewhere; it’s also for people in your communities and neighborhoods. It’s for people from broken homes, for those who are grieving and for those who’ve been rejected. As followers of Christ, we have the privilege of reminding people that they’ve been created in the image of God and pointing them to His great invitation of salvation.

Are you casting a “wide net” in your own life?

Food for Thought:

• If Jesus was going to use a parable to speak to you today, what kind of imagery do you think He’d use?
• Why is it important for you to cast a wide net?
• Think about people in your neighborhood or local community who are different from you. How could God use you to show them love today?

The kingdom of God is for the people around you—and Pastor Peter knows that well. He fueled a groundbreaking project that brought God’s Word to his neighbors!