“And
he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew
4:19
Peter was not a great preacher when Jesus called him; he was
a fisherman. When Jesus was done with him, he was a fisher-of-men.
How did he get that way? He followed Jesus, and Jesus made him that
way.
“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” We need
not concern ourselves with “how” Jesus is going to do it; just follow him and
“let” him do it. If we are malleable, he will work a work in our
lives. The focus is singular…….Jesus. Satan would have us “busy up”
our lives and “organize” our evangelism effort until we have no need for faith,
only a schedule. Jesus said “Follow me” and “I” will make you fishers of
men. He didn’t say “Peter, come, follow me, and let us have a meeting about
how we can save the lost in Israel.” Then Peter replies: “well good idea
Lord, in fact, given my abundant experience of saving souls I recommend the
following course of action: we should develop a financial plan that anyone can
understand. This will attract the masses because everyone is poor in this
day and age. Then we could go around the country teaching folks how not
to be poor. Somewhere in that process we will preach some of what God
wants you to preach.” Now I realize that this seems a little comical at
first glance, but sometimes I wonder; is this exactly what we are doing?
Are we content to reason with God, but not follow him? Do we have the
idea meetings and evangelism Bible studies because we earnestly want to save
those that are lost; or because talking about it makes us feel like we are
taking steps to do something for God? Are the meetings and studies are on the rise, but
our prayer life and personal daily reading time on the decline. Do we find that we can stand up and shout
through a two and a half hour concert, but cannot stay in church for thirty
minutes to help a seeking soul pray through? In any case, Jesus said
“Follow me.” Jesus took twelve men who were willing to forsake all to follow
him. They didn’t have any training or experience, but they had faith, and
they had the Spirit. These were the men that were handpicked to carry a
message that would forever change the world; men of faith. They followed
Jesus and he made them fishers of men.
Perhaps the question
is not, “how do we reach the lost?” Rather, “how do we follow Jesus?”
Jesus is the captain, and he knows how to fish for men; we need not but to
obey, to follow him, and let him fashion us through following.
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the
works of God? Jesus answered and said
unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” –
John 6: 28 & 29
Comments, Questions, Thoughts, etc. welcomed at
pgcollins65@gmail.com
