WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING IT TAKES
Matthew 4:18–19
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
I've been involved in many events that were set up to serve children, adults and special needs individuals that had never hunted or fished in their lives. When we plan these, we always have place seasoned fishermen/women and hunters with those that have no experience. A week or so ago, my grandson Micah took a wheelchair bound hunter and another inexperienced turkey hunter out for a Nebraska hunt. If it hadn't been for Micah's experience, the chances for success would have been near zero. With an experienced hunter, success came early.
In many communities where there is an over-abundance of deer, the local authorities brings in seasoned deer hunters. Why? Because they know what they are doing. If you hire a fishing guide, you hire someone has high levels of experience and success.
Have you ever thought about why Jesus chose fishermen to be His first disciples? We would think that the obvious choice might have been religious leaders, gifted preachers or maybe highly educated community leader with a lot of influence in the local circles. But no, He chose rugged, outdoorsmen types, who knew how to go after something and harvest it. Consider what this looks like: Jesus called and gave the work of the ministry to normal, everyday, working people who already understood the need to go after what they wanted.
In Scripture, we've been called to be fishers of men, but many of us have never gone fishing, let alone, caught any fish. With the right gear, a good place to fish and the right bait, it can be fairly easy to catch fish. But matching the right bait to the right fish, in the right location makes it a lot tougher to fish successfully.
You might question, but what is the right bait? If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you already have it. The right bait can be any story that you have about God's goodness in your life or in the lives of those near you. Stories such as, your salvation experience or a story about how God changed your life or the life of a friend or family member.
Recently I shared the story of Mark Witt who's father was killed in a hunting accident. Now, years later, he shares that story and 100's of people are coming to Christ. That story/bait is the right bait where he shares it.
We all have a story about God's goodness. We just need to be ready to share it with everyone around us. There's not reason to be afraid. Just put some bait on your hook and cast it, then you'll start catching the "fish" that Jesus has placed in front of you.
God commanded us to fish for and hunt down those that need Him. He's given Us the right equipment, the right bait and a target rich environment... we just have to be willing to step up and get the job done.
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