I’ve never been much of an outdoorsman.  Most, if any, of my outdoor experience was limited to one camping trip (in an actual camper, safely away from the critters) and fishing on a few occasions.  I fondly remember fishing with my maternal grandfather a handful of times before his health deteriorated and prevented him from doing what he loved.  Though I don’t have much personal experience to draw from, I do remember specific things he taught during those outings.  On this one particular trip I noticed he instructed my brother and I to use one type of bait while he used something else.  When I inquired why, he informed me the bait used determined the type of fish I would catch.  Then I heard a 10-minute lecture on the use of chicken liver, night crawlers, minnows, worms, crickets, and more.  To me, a fish was a fish.  It stunk and wasn’t pleasing to my palette (and still isn’t) but I enjoyed the time spent with my Papaw.  He caught a few of one type of fish and switch over to another bait.  A short while later he had caught a few different kind of fish.  My catch, if I caught anything at all, consisted of a baby catfish.  Amazing how that same fish never grew and seemed to jump from lake to lake (ha, ha).  Part of my inability to really catch anything could have been because of my impatience to leave the line in the water long enough to catch something.  When my Papaw went fishing, he had something very specific in mind.  He would plan his course of action, prepare his gear, executed his plan, and wait for a bite.  When the bite finally came, he would be ready to reel it in.  More times than not, he always came away with a significant catch.

Regardless of my minimal outdoor experience, I consider myself a fisherman.  Though not the type you’d expect.  Matthew 4 tells the story of Jesus calling Simon Peter and Andrew, two experienced fishermen, to become His disciples.  To convince them to follow Him, He used terminology they would understand.  Verse 19 says, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  I consider myself a “fisher of men,” as well.  The longer I work in the ministry, the more I realize fishing for men isn’t any easier than fishing for fish.  Just as my Papaw taught me, it’s necessary to create my course of action, prepare my gear, execute my plan, and wait.  A huge part of my success will always be based on the type of bait I use on my hook.  Have you been fishing lately?  Did you catch anything?  What kind of bait is on your hook?

Closing remarks and encouragement:  No doubt, Simon Peter and Andrew were intrigued as they had never fished for men before.  Christ’s fishing analogy was the bait that caught their attention.  In everything Jesus did, He was wise enough to bait His hook with the things that would be found attractive to the fish He was trying to catch.  As Christian’s, we will need to bait our hook with mercy, grace, understanding, concern, and above all else, love.  Once you’ve baited your hook, sit back and get ready for the catch!

Have a blessed week, my friends!