In Matthew 4:19 – 20 we read that when Jesus told some fishermen that if they followed him he would make them fish for people they left immediately to follow him.

Interesting – there was no two week notice, five or twenty year plan to get ready to follow Jesus. Immediately they dropped what they were doing and followed. Maybe that’s the problem with most people today – we want time to plan for the future. We want to make people who are called by Jesus to fish for people to write out a plan, get interviewed by a bunch of people and committees and then, if they think the person really has been invited by Jesus to fish for people they will give them some kind of permission.

Well, if it seems that people are getting in the way of you learning how to fish with and where Jesus is wanting you to maybe you need to find a way to fish without their ‘permission.’ In other words, you need to give yourself permission to follow Jesus and learn how to fish for people his way.

I think Jesus is interested in ‘immediate’ followers. When I felt called to follow Jesus there were many people who tried to get me to wait or to fish ‘their’ way in the places where their nets and nests were. Following Jesus is not always an easy path to take, there are hills and valleys, twists and turns, there is opposition by others and there is the personal struggle of giving up your own will. Not everyone turns in a resignation and walks out of their job in the middle of the day like those fisherman did. I guess that’s ok – but don’t scoff at the people who do, consider supporting them instead. Some people, instead of walking out, invite Jesus into their place of work through prayer and conversation and that’s ok too. Both actions are immediate.

Someone asked me once –

“Since Jesus isn’t on the earth anymore how could he call me to follow him?”

Good question and one that far too many people fail to ask. Personally, I think Jesus calls us to follow him in many different ways; through other people, in our prayer times, in reading the Bible, through our hearts and through our minds. There is a verse in the bible which I find very interesting and has helped me to understand that it is the Advocate (John 15:26) who testifies to Jesus and through the testimony of the Advocate whom we know as The Holy Spirit, people are still being called today to follow Jesus by leaving our current occupations and allow God to make us fish for people instead of things.

Metaphorically people fish for alot of things in this world. What are you fishing for is an important question for people to answer. Another important question is to ask is ‘Who am I fishing for?” And this has a two-fold answer – either you are fishing for Jesus, meaning he is your boss or you are fishing for someone else. And you know – there are many different kinds of fish in the sea and fisherman use different tools and techniques in order to catch them. So what kind of people does Jesus want you to fish for? Follow Jesus into all the places he went to fish and then ask him where he wants you fishing for people.

I believe if you listen with your heart and mind you will hear the Holy Spirit saying to you “Let me make you a fisher of people.” Are you ready to give an immediate answer of yes?

Let us pray:

Lord God, thank you for sending us your Advocate, The Holy Spirit to call us and fill us and make us fish for people on your behalf in this generation. Please teach, guide and equip us with all that is necessary to accomplish your work and will in the world today. We ask this in accordance to your will, that we may live on earth in peace as there is peace in heaven. Please pour out your Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth by the renewing of our minds and wills. AMEN

Some people have told me that the book “Praying Our Way Through Stress: Drawing Wisdom from the Lord’s Life and Prayer” has been helpful to them in following Jesus and learning how to fish. I hope you will find it helpful.