We used to sit along a creek bank and fish for hours. As a child, this was something I looked forward to. I sit in class at school thinking about it non-stop. We always wanted to catch that “big one.” See, Dad had some old steel fishing pole with spin cast reels. He wouldn’t let us use them unless we checked them out first. The line was cord (not nylon like today), so we had make sure the reels were wiped down and the line clear of knots.
We flipped over rocks, looking for night crawlers as bait in the wet grass. Finding night-crawlers was easy, but the real test was to make sure you did not break them in half! We kept them in a coffee can for the next day. The next left for the creek bank, sitting for hours hoping to catch that big one.
We fished for whatever hit the line. Afterwards, we took them home so mom could clean them for dinner.
Today
“18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” — Matthew 4:18-20
Dad taught my brother Sherman and I all about fishing and what it took to get prepared to catch that big one. Now, it’s the same our Heavenly Father: He calls us to go fishing too. This time, we are to be fishers of men. And we need to prepare just like we did as a kids when we went to the creek bank.
How do we prepare for this fishing trip?
First, trust God. He already has plan already laid out for you.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11
Second, develop a solid prayer life.
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” — Ephesians 6:18
Third, study the Word of God daily.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —
2nd Timothy 2:15
Fourth, go out with the knowledge that it in the end.
“4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Fishing trips
So as kids I enjoyed the warm summers day of catching sunfish, bluegill, catfish, perch, crappie, carp, we should also enjoy this fishing trip. Just like the variety of the different fish we caught, there are so many people out there who need the Good News. You can help them!
May God Bless you on the fishing trips that you set out on.