And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. – Matthew 4:19
During the summer my family and I enjoyed a relaxing vacation in sunny Florida. We spent time with my father, who is an avid fisherman. It seems to me that Dad knows everything there is to know about fishing.
One hot and sunny morning, my father, my children, and I decided to go fishing. Dad hand-picked fishing poles for us, hoping to give each of us one that we could grip with ease. “Fishing takes patience,” Dad said, “and you need a pole that is not too heavy.” My daughters were eager to get started. They had been fishing once before, and had each caught a fish. They fully expected to come home with a catch.
However, on this particular day, it seemed we could not catch anything! We stood on the pier with our lines dangling in the water, watching others around us catch one fish after the other. Dad bought some shrimp as bait, and my six-year-old daughter exclaimed, “We like shrimp, so the fish should too!” As time went by, my girls became restless, and I laughed when one said to her sister, “You have to be patient when you’re fishing, and be quiet, too, or else you’ll scare the fish away.”
My dad said, “Perhaps we are fishing in the wrong spot, or maybe we are using the wrong bait.” His comment made me think about how Jesus told the disciples He would make them fishers of men. How would a person fish for souls? How do we know we are in the “right spot” and using the “right bait”? We can only be effective if we are taught by the Master, and we follow His leading and directions. Our own knowledge and strength will not be successful. However the Lord knows the right time of the day to fish. He knows where the fish are, and His Spirit will provide the “bait.” As we do our best to listen and follow His directions, He will work through us.
Jesus, I want to be a fisher of men. Please teach me how to fish effectively that souls may be won for Your glory and honor.