My best day fishing

When the guy at the bait shop told us that we’d catch so many fish that our arms would get tired, we laughed. Yeah, right! Then he said that we’d let our line go slack, hoping the fish would unhook themselves. Little did we know the fun that awaited us that day!

My dad and I were on our way to fish at the mouth of Sebastian Inlet, just south of Cape Canaveral, Florida. We heard that when the tide changes and the baitfish were swept out with the current, the bluefish gather for a feeding frenzy. Bluefish aren’t necessarily the best tasting fish, but they’re sure fun to catch!

Just like the guy at the bait shop said, we caught so many fish that day that our arms got tired and we let our line go slack, hoping they’d unhook. Almost every cast produced a 1 or 2 pound bluefish. There were even times when we’d pull in the line and there would be two fish on the same lure! We filled up two 5-gallon buckets, and then started throwing the fish back. When we got back home, we realized that we had way too many fish and started giving them away to all our neighbors.

Some of Jesus’ disciples loved fishing too… at least we know that’s what they did for a living before meeting Jesus. 

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:16-17)

In this short but powerful call to discipleship, I see four things that Jesus calls every one of us to engage in:

·      Community:  “Jesus said to them…” Jesus invited each disciple to be part of a group that would learn together, travel together, serve together, and grow together. In a similar way, you and I are invited to be part of the body of Christ, which means that we are in family relationship. Every Christian needs a group of friends that they can journey with through life, and a small group is a great place to find that kind of community. Discipleship takes place in the context of relationships.

Q. Are you growing closer to Jesus in a community of friends?

·      Surrender: “Follow me…” In order to follow Jesus, I have to let go of something. For the disciples, it was the fishing profession. Verse 18 says that “immediately they left their nets.” If I follow Jesus, it means that I’m no longer in charge. I’m not blazing my own trail any more, I choose to take a new path, Jesus’ path.

Q. Who’s in the driver’s seat of your life?

·      Transformation: “I will make you become…” Notice the order; follow first, and then change comes. Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to get their act together, go to Bible school, kick all their bad habits and then they could be his disciples. He chose them to follow right then, just like they were, and then he was going to make them into something different. If you’re a Christian, but your life isn’t changing, you’d better check to see who you are following! When you follow Jesus, he will change your life!

Q. Where have you seen God change your life lately?

·      A kingdom-building lifestyle: “…fishers of men.”  Jesus doesn’t save us to become nice people. You and I were saved to fulfill God’s mission. Jesus came to earth to “seek and to save the lost.”  Being a disciple of Jesus means that you are involved in his “seek and save” mission. And by the way, there’s no difference between being a Christian and being a disciple!

Q. What kingdom-building opportunity do you need to get involved in?

While fishing for bluefish is fun and exciting, it pales in comparison to fishing for people! When we help someone know Jesus, we’re making a difference in his or her life for eternity!

Q. Have you answered Jesus invitation to “follow me?”