“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19
The Apostle Peter was a fisherman, when Jesus first called him. He was not well educated, or deeply schooled in the law. He was no great preacher or theologian. When Jesus called him to follow, he was a fisherman, however Jesus would make him a fisher-of-men. He, along with the other disciples, were fashioned through following.
The command from Christ was: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” A simple yet profound statement. As all of Christ’s statements were. Follow me. Let go of everything that you know and cling to what He knows. Dutifully follow where he will lead, and what he will teach. As a pupil to a student, or an apprentice to a master; the disciples left all and followed him. This is our example. They did not concern themselves with the how, but rather focused on the why. They followed Him because they believed in Him. That belief is what carried them out of their old life and into new life. The focus was entirely singular……. Jesus. Satan would have us “busy up” our lives and “organize” everything. No need for faith, for trust, for prayer or sacrifice. Simply identify the need, formulate a solution, organize the effort, and execute. The result of our efforts is all the affirmation needed to validate our plan. We don’t need faith; we need 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, I have a few things that I would like for you to consider.” Designing a plan to save souls is like trying to design a plan to raise the dead. You cannot plan a miracle. Does this mean we should we cease to have idea meetings and evangelism Bible studies? Leave off meetings and discussions entirely until God does something first? Who makes the first move? God or us? Isn’t that the question we want answered? Far be it for me to limit anyone’s zeal or unction from God but we must continually look to the scriptures. In any case, and in every case, the mission came after a relationship with the man Jesus. Jesus said, “Follow me.” We cannot leave off prayer meetings, personal Bible reading, devotion, and sacrifice; then hope to gather and gain. As Reverend Lawrence Hicks said: “the essential for soul winning is the Holy Ghost.” The Holy Ghost will not accompany an unholy, lukewarm, worldly minded, half-hearted people. Jesus took twelve men who were willing to forsake all, and he changed the world. They didn’t have any training or experience because they didn’t need it. They did faith and they had faith; the Spirit filled in the gaps and then some. 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?” Follow him closer, with greater zeal and unfeigned love. Let Jesus be the captain and show us how to fish for men. As we launch out into the murky depths of faith and trust Him to supply our every need. 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
