“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

“OOO… ya GOT ONE!” was the cry from everyone on the boat, when a slack line went taunt and a pole began to dance with a catch. Sometimes, “Oh he’s a nice one too,” would be thrown in, IF the fight seemed aggressive. Most of the time, after being landed, the fish was thrown back because of size or species issue. But new bait was applied and thrown again.

Fishing… now there’s a pastime. I’ve tried to count the cost many times, but dropped the math when a fish, caught by me, cost 4 x’s or more than what I could buy it for at the store. But I always go back to it. It’s an expensive thrill. But a thrill… still. When the thrill is gone, gear collects dust in the back room. Reflecting on the act, I related it to Jesus’ call to Peter.

It’s an unknown and surreal feeling to be called to Christ. When the bait is taken by a lost soul who is hungry for something more, a thrill comes to the heart of both the taker AND presenter. When a seemingly big one gets away, it dampens my spirit with, ‘what if’? But I do not control the waves. I can only answer His call. “Try again! He says. Will I?

Every Christian is called to be a Fisher of people for Christ. Also called ‘witnesses,’ it sticks to people who habitually do it. But NO ONE is absolved from being one… for Him. People see me for who I am by what I DO. If I stand with a pole at the water’s edge, I am a fisherman. If I call myself a Christian, I am expected by my Master to do and act like one.

A Believer’s cost to ‘self’ is expensive. It requires an ‘all-in’ attitude that includes time, money, talents and service. But there is not a better, more secure and exciting place to be than in Jesus boat… doing His thing. Are you?