Matthew 4:19, BSB

“‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’”

My younger son likes fishing, and he has been getting more into it recently. The earnings he has made from his summer job working on wood projects with his dad, he uses for fishing stuff. You can see the excitement on his face very easily, whether he is telling you about his rod and reel combo or showing you a picture of him with his catch.

Every time he talks about fishing, I cannot help but have my thoughts drawn to the words Jesus said: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!” I do not have any real knowledge about fishing, simply because I have not learned much about it. Yet I do know that it requires bait, equipment like a rod and reel, patience, and being still. Well, to me, that sounds quite a bit like following Jesus. No wonder Jesus said to follow Him before He would make them fishers of men.

What do I mean when I say fishing sounds like following Christ? Let’s think about it.

Bait is used to draw fish, which is kind of like us. As disciples of Jesus, we should represent Him and demonstrate His love for others so they can see Him.

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Mark 1:3, NIV)

We are also called to sow the seed. Without seeds being sown, there will never be a harvest. Without casting the hooks with bait, there will never be fish caught.

Equipment is not just about tools. It also includes learning how to use them and how to grow in your skills. The more I observe my younger son in this fishing matter, the more I find that the passion he has for it should be like the hunger and thirst we have for Christ. From making ourselves available to being ready for the moment of fishing, we should expect a process of preparation and have a willing heart to learn humbly.

Patience and being still are not just realities required for fishermen but attitudes every Christian should have. Just like our Lord Jesus, who is humble and gentle in heart (Matthew 11:29), and who is patient, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Sometimes those who fish may wait a whole day or long hours without one single catch. Other times, they may catch a large number, like the disciples who listened to Jesus (Luke 5:6).

Therefore, my family in Christ, whether Jesus instructed His disciples to feed His sheep or to fish for men, the starting point is to follow Him and to love Him so we can love like Him. Be an imitator of Christ. Lay down your life like the seed sown into the ground. The harvest will come, and you will be one who fishes for men (John 12:24).