Matthew 4:18-20 (NLT)
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
It is important when choosing a marketing strategy to first decide who your target audience is. If you do not have a specific idea of the people who are to be reached, it is difficult to determine what will appeal to them. Without a focus, such campaigns are random and are doomed for failure. Or attempting to achieve a goal without a firm concept of what is attractive and inviting will surely end unsuccessfully. In southern terms, this is called fishing with the wrong bait. It can also be applied to influencing all people not just those in marketing. Your best effort to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others can be strongly dependent on what kind of “bait” you are “fishing” with. Jesus Christ called us to “fish for people.” He desires humanity to live with Him in Eternity. However, in this world “God”, “Jesus” and “religion” are difficult subjects that ultimately turn people off rather than attracting them as a moth to a flame. Are you the Light of the World today? (Matthew 5:14) Light is attractive. It invites others from the darkness. Peter and Andrew were fishermen. They made their living by catching fish. However, when Jesus Christ invited them to “come, follow me”, they dropped their nets to follow Him. Even though they understood the fishing industry and knew how to fish they would have to choose a new strategy to catch people rather than fish. As a believer, it is imperative that we also decide the proper “bait” to introduce others to Jesus Christ. Is your life attractive to people looking for Jesus Christ? If you were to say, “Come and follow me to Eternity, would they without reservation follow you? As Christians, are we fishing with the wrong bait?
I John 2:7-8 (NLT)
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.
Loving one another is nothing new. It was an old commandment made new in Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it possible for grace and mercy to abound in our life which should be extended to others. People expect opposition, ridicule, condemnation, struggle and strife amongst one another. There is steady competition between humanity as the world struggles for a better life. However, when the church is one of the biggest enemies of the lost it becomes a futile effort to reach those who are lost in the darkness. There is nothing attractive about these qualities. It is an infiltration of human nature in the House of God. But when we choose to change the way we view others and truly follow Jesus Christ, we cut the lines of such things in our life by choosing love, forgiveness and humility in all things. It was not by mistake that Jesus chose fishermen as His Disciples. These gentlemen were used to getting their hands dirty. They were outcast who lived on the water many of them unsavory characters who were in constant pursuit of the catch. They had all the right qualities and with the right “bait” they would now become successful. Salvation has given each believer a new chance to be the Light of the World. Attracting all types of people from the darkness of this world almost effortlessly, but we must change our current strategy and make the Love of God attractive once more. It requires getting our hands dirty. We must spend time loving the unlovable just as God loves us. Outside of Jesus Christ there is not one appealing thing about a person. However, we Jesus Christ and His Amazing Love things are bound to change.
Luke 5:5-7 (NLT)
“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
When the Lord told Simon Peter to let down his net once again, I am sure this exasperated the exhausted, experienced fisherman, but he did it anyway. His nets were overflowing and on the verge of breaking. Same water, same boat and same net but different faith, the fishermen had fished all night and worked very hard in their own strength and did not catch a single fish. But when Jesus Christ gave the charge, the fish jumped into the nets. Two things stand out in this passage. First, Jesus did not tell them to move the boat or change position. The Lord wants to use you right where you are. Your new life is now. He is not going to strip you of your current position and reposition you anywhere else. You are in your mission field so be obedient. Simon Peter was sitting in his boat feeling defeated from lack of success and Jesus asked him to row him into the water so that the Lord could continue to teach the large crowd that had gathered. It was after Peter was obedient that Jesus filled his net with fish. Will your faith allow obedience before the catch? Jesus is looking for followers who are willing to put themselves out there in faith before the blessing. If you are following Jesus Christ for His Provision and Prosperity, then you will likely strive your whole life for very little. Peter found faith on the water that day and when Jesus Christ said, “Follow me AFTER the biggest catch of his career, Peter walked away from the wealth of his industry to seek treasure in Heaven. We have it all wrong when we expect Jesus to bait us with blessing for faith. Our faith releases the Hand of God in our life. Obedience is required. The Lord is not looking to change your current venue or the people who live and work in your life. He is preparing you to attract them to the Light of the World with Love! By faith, obedience tells us to cast the net in the midst of failure and opposition trusting God for the results. Your purpose today is not your profession. Your profession is not your provision. We are all called to be fisher of men. God is changing our strategy but not His Call. It is time believers become attractive to a lost world and draw people from the darkness into the deep once again.
John 21:5-7 (NLT)
He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
Even long time Christians get distracted by the religion of Christianity and lose sight of the relationship of our faith. Jesus Christ desires to be in a covenant relationship with each one of us. He longs for us to develop relationships with others for His Name Sake. However, it is human nature to lose sight of our mission and begin “fishing” for worldly things rather than the Kingdom of God. Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not too late. Jesus is still calling. He called to the fisherman on the water. Their faith drained after their expectation had been devastated by the beating, crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. They returned to the life they knew. How many times have we failed and just returned to our old life? It is a comfortable place. We know how to act there and what to expect. But Jesus did not leave these men in their futile effort. Once again, the Lord called them. Even after Peter denied ever knowing the Lord, people do the same thing by professing the Lordship of Jesus with their mouth and living a contrary life. But the Lord keeps calling. The moment Simon Peter recognized Jesus Christ once again he abandoned his “catch” to follow Jesus. Will you do the same? Jesus Christ is after one thing – the heart of mankind. The human heart is attracted by love, it can only be apprehended with love.
John 21:15-17 (NLT)
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
Do you love Jesus Christ today? Do you really love Him? Are you absolutely confident that you love the Lord? If so, then you are called to love and care for others. Jesus Christ is not calling for high profile believers who make the headlines, yell at crowds and fill auditoriums. He is asking us to love people. You will win the heart of God by loving other people. Faith allows us to love the unlovable and face possible rejection because we live by trusting the Lord for our love and acceptance. Jesus is asking us to take this new life that He has provided and use it to be the Light of the World and extend His Love to those who live in darkness. He is not asking you to leave your current existence to do it just to “fish” with the right bait – His Extravagant, Overwhelming, Faithful, True, and Unconditional Love. Share it with others today. Give your life away for Jesus Christ right where you are. He will fill your nets with blessings too many to count. You will live in the peace and love of God. You will apprehend God’s Heart by choosing to love His People.
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