In case you’ve not heard, Susan and I are going to be grandparents! Taylor and Emma are expecting their first child in the middle of March. We are all excited!
Though his fishing time may be diminished soon, I can picture Taylor teaching a little boy or girl how to fish in a few years. Since he was young, our son has loved to fish and God has answered many prayers and taught many lessons on the water. Several of Jesus’ disciples also experienced God’s intervention while fishing.
When the Rabbi called, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” the fishermen followed. When Jesus invites us to ‘fish’ with him, we see the priorities of the kingdom: people. He came to seek and to save the lost and he invites his disciples to participate.
Besides knowing all about lures and having a great ‘feel’ for what is happening under the water, Taylor has developed an important skill: he knows how to locate fish. “Cast your net on the other side!” Jesus helped his friends catch a boatload by telling them where the fish were.
I love the story in Acts 10 of Peter going up on a roof to pray. The Holy Spirit instigated one of the greatest ‘fishing trips’ of all time. He sent Peter to a forbidden zone to seek an unfamiliar ‘catch,’ and the result was the beginning of God’s plan for the Gentiles. II Chronicles says: “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” Cornelius longed for the Lord… so God sent a fisherman to share the gospel.
If I desire to ‘fish’ with Jesus I must value souls above everything the world promotes: wealth, position, pleasure, sports, comfort… Then I must have my eyes and ears open to his direction. Finally I must be ready to share the gospel: Jesus came as the Son of God; Jesus lived a sinless life; Jesus hung on a cross and carried my sins; Jesus died as a sacrificial Lamb; Jesus rose from the dead and defeated the devil; and Jesus is now sitting next to the Father waiting to return. He knows how to catch men and he invites us to join him!
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16