Day 278.
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:19, 20 ESV)
This was the call of the first disciples of Jesus and it is still the call today. To believe in Jesus is to be called to follow Him. To be called to follow Him is to become a fisher of men. In the scene leading up to Jesus’ call, Peter is told where to throw his nets and as he does, he finds them filled so full that he cannot pull them in alone. The fish fill his and his partners’ boats! Immediately Peter recognizes the supernatural element to this catch and falls at the feet of Jesus fearful. It is such a great picture for us too. To God belong all the people of the world. And among them he has chosen some, directed some, to be “caught” for His kingdom. (Perhaps a better picture for the fish is to be set free from their captivity, but the point of the fish analogy is for the fisherman.) In the providence of God, He has ordained that we be the ones to bring home those that are His, and we are empowered to do that by telling others the good news of Jesus. It is a calling that demands are lives. Those called left everything to follow him, and we are too. This may not require you to literally sell everything, but it does require you to see that all you have becomes subject to this Great Commission.
Lord, will you teach us to see ourselves as your “fishers” of men as we build our lives around the Great Commission. Help us to understand that all we have is because of your provision and, like ourselves, belongs to you and your purpose. Show us where to “throw our nets” as a church that we might see your hand at work.
