Jesus calls you to go fishing
“From now on you will fish for people.” (Luke 5:10b)
Our Bible verse for this week has some thoughts very similar to the one from two weeks ago and our devotion on it, but yet there are some distinctions to be made.
One of the things which is notable about Jesus’ ministry is the way he uses the current situation at hand to share the truths of the Gospel with people. Our verse for this week is from a situation where one day Jesus sees Peter and others doing their regular job of fishing. As true God, Jesus knew what they had just been through – fishing all night and catching nothing. Despite that, Jesus tells them to go back out to the same place where they had fished and try again. He wants them see the power of the Word in their catch. When they follow Jesus’ direction, they haul in an unbelievable catch of fish which opens Peter’s eyes to see Jesus’ full power and glory.
Peter, when he sees that he is standing in the presence of a holy and perfect God, is overwhelmed by his sin. But Jesus assures him “don’t be afraid.” Jesus’ words assure him that his sinfulness does not disqualify him from going out and proclaiming the Word of God. He instead assures him that the Word has given him forgiveness and with that forgiveness he can go out and share the same message with others – the power of the Word gives forgiveness, life and salvation.
Each one of us has seen the power of God at work in our lives and Jesus also reminds us that our sins and our sinfulness are not an excuse from listening to and following his call. We have seen that Word work in our lives when we repent as God tells us “your sins are forgiven.” We have seen that Word work as it has gotten us through those times in life when there seems to be more tears and fears than hope and smiles. That Word has comforted us as we stood at the graveside with the assurance “I am the resurrection and the life.”
As we, like Peter, have seen that Word work in our lives, God calls us, forgiven sinners, to take that Word and share it with others and let it work in their lives as well. Our Lord removes our fears as he tells us that when we need to speak, he will give us the words to say.
But not only does Jesus call Peter and us as forgiven sinners to share his Word with others, he also calls us to share the faith he gave us with others who do not have it. That is when Jesus speaks the words of our verse for this week “from now on you will catch men.”
When Jesus says to Peter and us that he is making us fishers of men, he is not just talking about having a church and proclaiming God’s Word. He is talking about using the opportunities which God gives us in our daily lives to ask and invite people to join us to grow in their faith.
Just think of how many different people we come in contact with in the course of just one week. Maybe they are family members or relatives who share with us their fruitless search for a purpose in life. Maybe they are the person on our volleyball team on Tuesday nights who has told us that they feel depressed and despairing. Or perhaps it is the person who works alongside us and we hear their bitterness and rage all the time.
Have we asked them? Jesus calls us to be fishers of men and simply gives us the opportunities to take the faith which is in our hearts and let it do the talking to others as he uses us to reach out to them.
People often talk about having their “favorite fishing hole” or their “favorite fishing spot.” Your spiritual fishing spot is the place God has placed you in your life. You don’t need some fancy fish finder to find those who God has asked you to be “fishers of me” for. He has placed them in your life. Ask God to give you the words as you see and hear of people who need the assurance of forgiveness or the peace which God’s Word gives you in your faith. Then, trust that God will bless your fishing for people for the sake of the Gospel!
Here’s a prayer to that end: Lord, grant us grace to walk your way and, falling, rise again – restored, forgiven to be fishers of men. Amen.