“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
