During this time of year when spring is changing to summer I reflect on past memories of fishing trips with my dad, brother, and two sons. I have very fond memories of our trips to a remote lake that was only accessible by float plane. No cell coverage, no phones, just us, and God’s beautiful creation. Oh, and I can’t even begin to tell you how many times we laughed until we would cry…even now while I am writing this I am smiling thinking of a few of those stories.
In addition to all the laughter there were some serious moments, like the time my brother fell face down in the boat from the dock…at that moment it was serious but later that day it turned to laughter. Of course my sons were laughing by the splash the boat made when he hit the bottom of the boat but I knew he could have been hurt.
Oh the memories.
Then there was all the fish we caught…there were some days when we didn’t do well but others when you just got tired of catching fish. Oh and did I mention how well we ate during those trips!
Now things have changed, my brother pasted away a few years ago, the boys have grown up and have their lives now, dad has semi-retired from his business, and I seem to always be busy. Life seems to pick up pace year after year. We always have something going on, people to see, work to do, etc…but are we missing what really needs to be done?
Are we too busy with ourselves to focus on what really matters?
Are we too busy to go fishing with our family or even more important are we too busy to be fishers of men?
I came across a story a few days ago and was challenged by it to think about that very question. What is important…a larger home, new car, more clients, etc… Are we too focused on things that we are not fishing?
Am I sowing seeds…being fishers of men…where are my thoughts during the day? Those were just a couple of the questions that came to mind.
Please do not misunderstand me, I know that we have responsibilities in life that need our attention, family, church, work, etc…but what I am talking about is answering the call like Peter and Andrew. Matthew 4:18-19 “18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Are we sowing seeds, being fishers of men while at work, at the store, at the gas station or are we more concerned about what we have to do next?
I was not only challenged by these thoughts and reading the story of the first disciples again but I was also encouraged that the God of all creation, the Alpha and Omega, would extend that call to a small town guy like me. That is our call as His disciples to go forth, sow seeds, and be fishers of men!
Be encouraged, He loves you, He cares about you, and He is asking you to follow Him and be fishers of men!
God Bless,
Rick