Whether we cast a line for fish in a lake or river, from a boat or ice shack, or whether we follow Jesus’ example and “fish” for the souls of men and women, we need to prepare.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
Gone Fishing
One summer my husband and I drove to Alaska to visit my son who worked at a fish camp on one of the small islands off Kodiak Island. The set-netting fish camp, one of numerous other tiny camps in the region, was highly regulated by the government. When the fish were running, government inspectors noted whether there were sufficient numbers to permit fishing. If so, the set-netters dropped everything to go out and set and "pick" their nets during specific hours. The time of the "openers" varied from a few hours to several days, depending on the number of fish running.
Every moment counted during the short, sporadic openers. The endurance race meant little sleep, hard work, frequent storms and blows, fluctuating prices and catches, and the possibility of storm-damaged or lost gear. Even so, the set-netters seemed to love their job.
Peter and Andrew of the Bible were fishermen, too, probably having fished most of their lives. Fishing had been their security. It had fed their families. They likely had thought about, talked about, and worked at fishing every day for years. Yet, when Jesus called them to be His disciples, they dropped everything. Their very livelihood—fishing—now became secondary. Once they began to follow Him, their priorities and securities changed dramatically during the three years He trained them, and they began to “catch” people instead of fish.
What the disciples did seems downright radical—leaving their livelihood behind to follow a poor, unassuming man who didn't even own a house. And yet we know that Jesus wants us to do the same. Whether we fish for a living, manage a business, or keep house for our family, He wants us to leave anything behind that would cause us to lose focus on Him and His kingdom.
Does that mean we should quit our jobs and become missionaries? Perhaps it does, for some. We all can ask ourselves what He wants us to do for Him. If, as the Bible says, it means "catching people" while at work, visiting the sick, or writing letters to our troops, then we need to do that. If we're homebound, we can pray for others. Or call. Or write.
He asks us to follow Him, whatever it takes us to do so.
Lord, show us exactly how we can drop our nets and follow You. We want to please You. We want to place our security on You rather than on the things of this world. In Jesus' name, amen.
Comments