THE FISHERMAN
Mathew 4:18-22
When Jesus called the first four disciples, he told them he would make them fishers of men. “And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from hence forth thou shall catch men”. Jesus used the imagery and metaphor of the profession they were used to, to tell them what their future vocation in and with him would look like. He knew they could easily relate to this having been fishermen all their lives. The fisherman is the most important metaphor for evangelism today. It has come to refer to the act of soul winning. In the act of fishing, one can go out with just a rod, line and hook to catch fish one at a time or go out with a group in a boat with nets to catch fish in large numbers.
In the same vein, evangelism can be done individually on a one on one basis with the aim of bringing that one unbeliever soul into the Kingdom. We can also go out in groups or even engage in mass crusades where thousands can be won for Christ. We see different examples of evangelism for us to take our fishing cue from. In John Chapter 4, we saw Jesus engaged in individual fishing with the Samaritan woman. In other instances, he sent the disciples out in twos while he organized massive crusades/outreaches at various times where thousands were fed. He also went from city to city preaching the word of the Kingdom.
The Apostles did the same. The book of Acts is a living tutorial on fishing. It started on a note of crusade in chapter 2, immediately after the Pentecost experience. In the third chapter we see Peter and John handle the lame man and from that experience another great outreach. We see individuals engaging itinerant souls and winning them for Christ. In fact, the disciples used every occasion to preach and win souls into the Kingdom.
The fisherman metaphor is still applicable to us today. You are called to fish for men. Go out there. Do the work of the evangelist. There are many souls still waiting to see the light of the gospel. Take the light to them. Do it singly. Go into partnership with another disciple. Participate in group evangelism and church crusades. Contribute your quota to media outreaches (television, print, radio and social media). Use every means to be a fisherman. The harvest is plenty and ripe. Stand up and be counted.
MEDITATION: 2 Timothy 4:1-2
