“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20
I love to fish. I have fished for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, it was all about catching fish. If the fish weren’t biting, I was disappointed. Now that I am older, I just enjoy being out on the water fishing. If they aren’t biting, that’s okay. I just keep on fishing, because I know that in due time, they will start biting again. Meantime it is a relaxing way to refresh the mind and spirit.
When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow him and become fishers of men, he didn’t promise them a harvest. It is the same with us. God didn’t promise us a harvest of Christians. Some of us plant seeds, others do the watering, and others may do the harvesting. The important thing is that we keep on fishing.
James Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China for over fifty years. He spent many years laboring in China, seeing few converts. But he kept on fishing. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest missionaries ever. The China Inland Mission (CIM), which he founded in 1865, became the largest of many missionary organizations in China. By 1910, it had more than 800 missionaries in the country, created 125 schools, and converted more than 20,000 Chinese to Christianity, as well as establishing more than 300 stations of work with more than 499 local helpers based in all 18 provinces. Cim is now known as OMF International.
James Taylor planted and saw very little of the harvest. But one day in heaven he will meet them all. A wise man once said, “ anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can cout the apples in a seed.” When we keep on fishing, planting seeds, we have no way of knowing what the harvest will be generations from now. One seed could produce a harvest of thousands.
It is easy to become discouraged and stop fishing when we don’t see any results. We stop doing what God places before us. I often see it in older people. They feel they done their time, now let someone younger do it. Let someone younger do the fishing. Many others just don’t want to put out the effort; they would rather coast through their Christian life. God didn’t call us to be aquarium keepers; He called us to be fishermen.
Jesus said: “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.” John 4:35-36
Keep on Fishing!
Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1
- Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church
- Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
- The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
- Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
- Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories of God’s Great Outdoors
- The Rapture: Coming Soon
- Delighting in the Lord: Enjoying a Close Walk with Jesus
- Evidence of God: Proof beyond Doubt
Sharing Jesus 