May 27
Mark 1:14-20
These verses remind me of a Randy Travis song. “Keep your lure in the water. Don’t just sit by the shore. There are souls to be caught, everywhere in this old world. Go where hearts are plenty. Don’t just drift with the tide. Keep your lure in the water, in the waters of life.” To me, being fishers of men is such an interesting concept. There are all these lost souls, just swimmin around out there. It’s our job to witness to them, or throw them our shiny lures. Sometimes they are just not interested. Maybe the water is too murky for them to see it. They are blinded by Satan, or by their own doubts and fears. Maybe we are using the wrong lure. Sometimes we are pushy when we need to back off, and sometimes we are laid back when we need to get a little pushy. Maybe they want it, it looks so good and tasty, but it’s not what they are used to. They grew up believing something totally different. But, sometimes they ARE interested. And sometimes they just need to see that lure a few more times. We are not going to catch a fish on every cast, but the more casts we make, the more fish we will catch. We’ve just got to get our lures out there! If we are truly trying to follow Jesus, that means we need to be fishing for men. Anyone who has been fishing (for fish) knows the adrenaline rush that comes when your line gives that little tug, and you know you’ve hooked one. The joy of that is nothing compared to the feeling of helping someone find Jesus! Some people keep their big catches, mount them, and hang them on the wall. I don’t recommend you try that with human fishing. Fishing for men is not for our glory, but for the glory of God. And we may be doing the casting, but God is the one who really urges the fish to bite. Still, I do hope that someday, when we all get to heaven, we will all have at least one person we can look at and say “Oh! Look at that. The great catch of 2009! That one was a fighter. Took some work to real her in. But it was worth it!”
Principle: Following Jesus results in becoming fishers of men.
Application:
1. Does my response to Christ include both repentance from sin and belief in Christ as my Savior?
2. What do I need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus?
3. Will I obey Christ’s call today without delay?
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What stood out to me most in these verses was just the simple statement of Simon and Andrew's profession: "he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen."
ReplyDeleteI think we as a culture often define people by their jobs, and we can be quick to dismiss people. When Jesus saw Simon, Andrew, James and John however, he saw more than just fishermen. Jesus saw their potential to be fishers of men, He saw their potential to impact generations to come.
The four guys called by Jesus in these verses responded "at once" and "without delay". I pray that I would learn to respond to his calling and his direction in the same way.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing jumped out at me, Bob. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Why do I have to make it a battle? He is wiser than I am. I should rush to do His will knowing that His plans are always best. Instead I drag my heels and raise questions. The "what ifs" rob me of the joy of just jumping into the adventure.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's a thought about fishing for men...they used nets back then, rather than a fishing pole, and the nets required teamwork. I want our church to provide opportunities for people to serve together in activities that will fill the boat with a fresh catch. Even someone who isn't so good with a rod and reel can surely grab hold of the net and PULL!
When I think of fishing I think of snakes, chiggers, sunburns, and no talking (a personal biggy). This isn't one of my favorite things. But this kind of fishing is much simpler. Just go, keep my eyes and ears open to who the Master is bringing in. Be obedient . It's a privilege.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for sharing your hearts. I needed this reminder today.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this scripture I too am reminded of a song by Francesca Battistelli "I'm Letting Go" this really applies to how God is currently working in my life. "I'm letting go
ReplyDeleteOf the life I planned for me And my dreams
Losing control Of my destiny
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe So I'm letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone
Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I'm not afraid
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
Feels like I'm falling and this is the life for me"
As I think of Simon, Andrew, James and John this is what they did they had no idea what God had planned for them. They just gave up there life and followed Him.
Recently I was put is a situation that this song became real to me. I had many plans for my future but God called me to do something else. I am putting aside the dreams and ambition I had planned to follow God's plan. You know He really does know what is best for our lives.
It is nice to see how this scripture applies to each of us in a different way in our current season of life.
All I can think about is the smell of the sea and the feel of the breeze as Jesus walked along the shore watching his soon-to-be team members carry out their daily tasks. I'd like to be there holding his hand; I'd like to be a child walking along in complete trust.
ReplyDeleteI think I would also like to be a little more like Jesus here. As I understand these men, they were the rejects. They were the ones who didn't make the cut at rabbi school so they became fishermen.
When Jesus went looking for his team, he didn't go to the school. He went to get the men he wanted. As I'm pondering this idea, I'm remembering a conversation I had with a friend last night. I was telling her about how I wish that someone who train some of our youth to be bold witnesses. I'm in a classroom all day, and I often wish that in my class I would have a student who was like me at that age. I don't know why God has allowed my heart to be tender toward his leading, but I know that when I was in middle school, I was sharing my faith.
Maybe I need to stop talking to others and praying that God would send someone. Maybe I need to step up to the plate. Wow, I think I need advice. How does one find balance in a world with such great need? Team work? What could that look like in this situation?
I was thinking too fast...
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say that what strikes in these verses is that Jesus sought fishers of men. He didn't just seek the lost. The boys in these verses were rabbi-rejects meaning they knew the law; they knew all about God, and while I know that Jesus has several conversations with these guys about truth and believing (in) Him after they leave their nets, it doesn't seem like these fishers are "lost." Instead, it seems they knew what was true, they just needed to step-out and demonstrate that faith. They needed to serve. Does this mean that I need to do more than seek the lost? YES! I also need to disciple and to train, but I never thought about seeking people to disciple. . .wow, seems like I should know this, but I haven't been doing this.
I was struck by the same thing Bob (Dad to me :)) and John said. We have been working so hard to teach this concept to our children- to obey without delay & without complaint. It is a difficult road and often SO frustrating! Sometimes they can be so disobedient we want to just give up & walk away for awhile. How amazing that God never gives up on us!! I can only imagine how frustrating my actions sometimes should be to Him, but yet He is patient & loving & just waits for me to come around. And how can I truly teach this concept to my sons when I can't seem to do it myself?? Something I most defnitely need to work on...
ReplyDelete