How to Fish for People

“Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

I am so used to hearing the phrase “fishers of men”, that I just take this verse for granted but in the NIV and New Living Translation, this verse sounds funny. “Come be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!” I am sure it sounded even funnier to the two brothers, Simon and Andrew, that Jesus issued the invitation to. They were after all, real commercial fishermen, rough and ready, no-nonsense men. What did they think? One would have surmised they would scoff and say, “What in the world are you talking about?” But they immediately left their boat and their nets to follow Jesus. 

A little farther the three men caught up with two other brothers, James and John, who were mending their nets in a boat with their father Zebedee. Jesus called out to them too and they immediately followed him, leaving their boat and their father behind. 

Immediately! If only we always followed God’s lead with an urgency! I was listening yesterday to this funny preacher. He never fails to make me laugh even if his message is usually very serious. Canon J. John told of the time God instructed him to talk to this woman who lives an hour away from him. He didn’t because it would take him three hours in all, one to get there, one to speak with her, another to drive home. His wife prodded him to do it, but he said he couldn’t find three hours in his busy week to do it. Eventually he forgot. Then God told him again, and then again with more and more urgency. Three times in all! He still didn’t. One day, as he was listening to the news, the woman’s name popped up. Her name was Amy Winehouse and she was dead. She died at her Camden Square home in London of alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011 at the age of 27. After her death, her music, “Back to Black” briefly became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. 

Canon J. John said, “I was distraught because I knew He told me to go and I didn't go. Of course I repented. You know we can't alter the past but we can bring the past to the altar of God. We’ve all made mistakes but you know from that day, I vowed to God that I will go anywhere, I will do anything, I will give away anything, I will do anything He asked me to do. Hand on heart, my wife, Kelly, is here. I think I've done it every day since that day because I had such a shock to the system!” 

Do you feel God’s prodding today? Let’s not hesitate to act on it! We just never know if we can save a relationship, a marriage, a reputation, a life! One time God asked me to go to the QC Jail and I did not want to. I cried and cried because I was scared to go. My mom thought somebody died! She said if no one went with me, she would go. Eventually, a whole group of us went to visit the inmates every week and it was one of the most rewarding and rich experiences of my life. The ministry continued until the pandemic put a halt to it. Even if we are scared, timid, totally ineffective, as long as we say yes, God will supply what we lack. Just make the first step.