Fashioning through Following

“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.  However he became 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.”  It is a singular message that demands a complete commitment.  If we lift Him up, He will draw all men unto him.  Jesus took twelve men who were willing to forsake all to follow him, and made a worldwide Church.  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