CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 839

“Gone Fishing”

Matthew 4:18-19 (ESV)  While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

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Some of my best memories of time with my Dad were when we would go fishing together.  There were four common sense principles that he impressed upon me about fishing: Maintain your equipment, go where the fish are, be attractive to them, and don’t scare them away.

Jesus teaches us to fish, just as He taught Peter, Andrew and the other disciples.  Jesus teaches us to be fishers of people of all nations and like the lesson taught by my dad, similar common sense principles apply:

Be equipped – Just as you would not go fishing without a rod and reel in good working order, you also cannot go out into the mission field without knowledge of the Word of God.  You must be spiritually equipped through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and through the knowledge of His Word that comes by the reading and study of His Word.

Go where the people are – We cannot live isolated, cloistered lives if we are to be fishers of people.  We have to be willing to get out of our comfort zone.  Some of the best fishing holes I remember were nearly inaccessible and dangerous.  But God protected us and kept us safe and as I reflect on this today I realize that He continues to protect us as we follow Him and go where He leads us.

Show them Jesus – It has been said that ‘People don’t care what you know until they know that you care’.  God’s love for the lost must manifest itself in your genuine care and love for them.  A relationship may develop over months or years before the opportunity to share the Gospel presents itself.  People will be attracted to the light and love of Christ that shines through your life character.

Don’t drive them away from Jesus – I would sometimes get bored and begin to throw rocks into the water which scared the fish away.  Do we drive people away from Jesus with our judgmental attitude and ‘stone throwing’?  “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” – John 8:7 

We are called to be Christ-like in that all the fruit of His Spirit are manifested in our day to day character.  If we only act like Christians when we are surrounded by Christians we are hypocrites and we drive people away from Christ rather than attract them to Him.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… – Galatians 5:22 

Where has Jesus led you to go fishing?  For most of us it is our place of work, our community and neighborhood.  Some of us find ourselves in jobs and places we do not want to be in.  This can give rise to anxiety and despair and we feel trapped wondering why God led us to these wilderness areas.  Are we willing to follow Jesus only to pleasant places of our choosing?

May God transform your mind and attitude with regard to your circumstances.  May you approach each new day with a ‘Gone Fishing’ attitude and go and face each day as if you are going fishing, carrying the light of Christ to the lost.  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men … You are serving the Lord Christ. – Col 3:23