Fishers of Men

I was reading my Bible this morning and was focusing on Matthew 4. This chapter teaches us how Jesus resisted the temptation of satan, but it also teaches us about the calling of the first disciples. That is what I want to look at today.

Mat 4:18-22
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. (21) And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (22) And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, then was led away to be tempted in the wilderness by satan. After He resisted the temptation, the angels ministered to Him, and he then began His ministry.  Verse 18 teaches us that he found Peter and Andrew fishing, they were full time fishermen. He also found James and John, who were also fishermen. He called each of them. What did they do? Each of them, according to Scripture, "straightway" and "immediately" left their nets and ships to follow Him. What does this tell us today?

Jesus is still calling out to people even today. Yet, so many people ignore His call. Had these fishermen ignored the call of Jesus, they would have missed out on the greatest calling in the world. The calling to be "fishers of men." What exactly does that mean to be a "fisher of men?" It means that we show Christ to all those we come in contact with. It means that we "go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20)." It means that we take Jesus into our homes, neighborhoods, city, towns and workplaces. It doesn't mean you need to be a  "bible thumper" and do nothing but quote verses to people. It does mean that when your coworker hurts, you hurt with them. It does mean that when someone needs someone to talk to, you listen, and offer advice.

Not everyone is called to be a preacher or a teacher. Maybe that is your calling, maybe it isn't. But each of us is called to "go and make disciples." Those full time fishermen that Jesus called became fishers of men. They became the witnesses that took the message of Christ into the world known at that time. How can we take the message of Christ into the world today? The Internet makes it possible for each of us to reach people in far away lands. You don't have to quit your job and go to some remote part of the world to be a missionary. All you have to do is turn on the computer and go to the Internet.

Jesus is calling us today to be fishers of men. Are you willing to take that call and cast your net and take the message of Christ into a lost and hurting world? Think about it.