His Keepers
Many men’s eyes, and some women’s eyes too, widen as they step into the fishing department of their favorite sports stores. Hundreds of fishing rods and reels line the aisles, but the main attraction is the flashy, glittering, all shapes and sizes fishing lures. They are designed to attract fish but many tackle boxes are filled with those that look good to us. Fish snap at lures that outwardly appeal, but in the end spell their disaster.
So too, we face temptations that lure us to sin. One of fishing’s greatest pleasures is persuading a lumbering hawg to grab that bait and give the lucky fisherman the fight and trophy catch of a lifetime. In these instances, though, it’s vital to remember that success in fishing, as in life, is ultimately the work of God. But because God works in unseen ways, it’s easy for us to take the credit.
Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew were fishing. Jesus said to them ”Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus called to James, his brother John and their father, and they followed. (Matt 4:18-22). Did John remember that moment on the day he stood under Jesus’ cross? What contrast, going from a bright, hopeful morning on the Sea of Galilee to the darkness and grief on a small hill outside Jerusalem. And yet the cross was there, waiting, to Jesus’ call ‘’Follow Me, and I will makes you fishers of men”. It wasn’t as if the disciples didn’t know death.
Fishing involves death by its nature. But this is Jesus’ kind of fishing, where the fisherman dies so the fish will live. Fish caught in God’s nets, only to live in peace and freedom forever. As any fisherman knows, fishing and humility go hand in hand. There are regrets not landing that lunker, but life too has disappointments. We blow it and fall short, but Jesus doesn’t yank us from our lives and families. Jesus restores us. The classic example is Peter, who professed unshakable allegiance to Jesus but crumbled when he was pressured.
The disciples told people, everyone, to come to trust Jesus. They spread the word and people around the world came to faith in a God who loved them to lay down His life for them. Now we get to be fishermen, telling our friends and family about Jesus.
As Christians, we are part of what God is doing through the Lutheran Hour Ministry. You support and prayers make a very real impact on this ministry every day. Look forward to see how the Lord will work through us.
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