“And he said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 NASB)
Perhaps you are a seasoned fisherman, and you know about the art of fishing. Yes, if you have been fishing for a while, you know the technical aspects of fishing, as well as mental facets that fishers must possess. You know the best time to fish. You know how to use various types of bait. You know it requires patience and you have great demonstrated great determination, returning to the same pond after a day where the fish were not biting. You know how to reel in your catch and keep it on the hook and how to preserve the fish until you get home. Yes, if you are a seasoned fisherman, you know about the art of fishing.
I am not a seasoned fisherman, when it comes to catching fish. As a matter of fact, I had an uncle who tried to make me a fisher of fish, but I really, as we say, “sucked” at fishing. I didn’t know how to put the bait on my pole. I hated to touch the worms. Actually, I think dough bait was created just for me. Uncle, the one who made my bait, probably should have gone to the patent office and introduced a new, bestselling bait. He knew about the art of fishing. I just didn’t get it. I was impatient, more worried about the sounds of the crickets and other crawling creatures in the surrounding woods, rather than focusing on being patient, waiting for the fish to bite. My repeated inquiry to my uncle was, “Is it time to go yet?” The response, as you expected, was, “Fishing requires patience. Don’t give up so quick.” I offered every excuse you can think of, trying to convince my uncle that we should pack it up and head home. I was not successful with the art of persuasion in that case, and certainly there was doubt if I would every master the art of fishing. As a matter of fact, there was unspoken doubts if I would ever in this lifetime, let alone the first nighttime expedition where I was being educated in the art of fishing, doubts if I would ever reach the novice level as a fisherman.
As I sat on the cold ground, keeping an eye out for those unwanted, crawling, creeping creatures, all of a sudden, I caught a fish. It must have been a big one. I’m trying my best to reel it in, but whatever fish I had the fortune of taking my bait, called upon his fish strength and pulled me into the water. The fish caught me, so to speak. When I got up, wet from head to toe, there was no fish on the end on my line. If fish think like we do, that fish was probably saying, not knowing it was me on the other end, “How is the master of the art of fishing now?” I imagine the fish told his fish buddies he went to school with about his nighttime experience and again, bubbles coming from their open mouths filled with signs of laughter surfaced to the top of the water.
Enough of the story. Let’s talk about being fishers of men, winning souls for the Lord. How do we master the art of the kind of fishing Jesus taught His disciples. Here are some tips. Pay attention to Jesus’ techniques. Learn how he used various types of bait; parables, historic accounts, true predictions of the future, objects lessons and more, addressing his potential catch by speaking to them with the truth that sets men and women free.
Do you need more tips? Read the operation manual for fisherman, the one called the Word of God. Know that it takes time to be a good fisher but keep learning from the Master. The disciples were in training for three years. Gain knowledge, for knowledge on how to fish will pay off when you work on catching fish all alone. Well, almost all alone. We are not alone because the Master did leave us with a Helper, didn’t He? Thank God!
More tips? Realize that mastering the art of fishing, being a fisher of men is required of all believers. If you don’t believe me, check it out in the operation manual I referenced above.
One of the most important tips I can give you is that while you are at the pond in your proximity, the pond called the world or referred to as “therefore” in the Master’s commission to go ye therefore and make disciples, be careful that you don’t let the “fish” you are trying to catch, catch you! Don’t be like me in my childhood fishing for fish experience. Don’t be pulled into their pond where their pond-life principles will dirty you all up and make you look like a mess.
One more tip and you can go start your Wednesday off right. Once you have learned the art of fishing and as you see how obstinate the fish are in the pond, don’t stop. Fish anyhow! When the environment has harmed the waters, the society where the fish live, don’t give up! Fish anyhow! Keep fishing! Pray that the resurrected Master of the Sea will help you haul in a great number of fish! Now, follow His commands and go back to the pond and catch some fish! Have a great day! Master the art of fishing! Be blessed!
“After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.” The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?” They answered, “No.” He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.” They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.” (John 21:1-6 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King