Labor Day
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18–20 ESV
There are many different potential occupations in life. Still, I find it interesting that Jesus chose a number of fishermen to follow Him as His students. I wonder if we would choose fishermen if we were choosing men to serve in the Kingdom, especially since they are known for “telling whoppers.” Would we use men often pictured as storytellers to relate to others the most important truth? Probably not.
Jesus chose that sort of men. He wanted the work of His disciples of every age to be thought of as “fishing” for men. Unlike the fish’s grim fate, our purpose in fishing for men is that they might be won, body and soul, for the master Jesus. All men are by nature destined to die in sin and face eternal death. But if they are won for Christ, caught by His grace they escape eternal death altogether.
When we go fishing, we use things that attract the fish, like worms. When we fish for men, we don’t use things that they find desirable at first. We work with what God has placed in every human being—a conscience that knows sin and guilt. When the knowledge of sin is established, then the desire for deliverance is provoked. We can then point them to Christ’s death on the cross and His glorious resurrection as God’s solution to our shared problem. The Spirit of God draws them to Christ and they are caught for Him.
Whatever your earthly occupation, Jesus has also made you fishers of men. Talk to your pastor about how you can improve as a fisher of men.
Tell of our Redeemer’s love, Who forever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice All the guilt that on us lies.
The Lutheran Hymnal 507:3