The Fish Are Biting

Posted Dec 4, 2012

The Fish Are Biting- devotional 4

 (Joe Alain is Pastor of First Baptist Church of Port Allen, LA.)

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SCRIPTURE: II CORINTHIANS 9:6  

¶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Jesus guided the disciples to where the fish were located. With His eyes they could see the fish schooling. He will do the same for us. If we will look with Jesus' eyes we will see the people who are in need all around us. Jesus says to us, "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35). Fishing is a bit like farming. You see results in proportion to the work that you put into the endeavor. This principle of sowing and reaping is variously stated and illustrated in Scripture. Paul expressed this principle clearly in2 Corinthians 9:6, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

I have a friend who is an avid fisherman. I am always impressed and sometimes envious of his great catches. "Why do I not have similar results?" I think. Then, I remind myself that if I fished as often and as passionately as my friend, I would obviously catch more fish. It's hard to be a successful fisherman when you're boat serves more time as a leaf bin and when you're fishing consists of one or two outings a year!

When the disciples followed Jesus' instructions (John 20:6) they caught so many fish that the net could not be brought in. This great catch of fish gave the disciples a foretaste of what God was going to do through them as "fishers of men." Just imagine the possibilities of what God could do for us if we will faithfully follow Him!

As Christians we are to cast repeatedly our nets into the world and expect a catch. Our nets will be varied because it takes different baits to catch different fish. We can't always use the same methods of catching fish that have always worked. If worms are not doing the trick you try crickets. God did not call us to just "wet a line." He called us to catch men. We must do whatever it takes to reach people because the devil and the world sure is! Consider this. We fish for men to save men. In a sense we really are catch and release fisherman. The devil fishes for men to fry them, to condemn them for eternity. We catch them so that God can release them from sin and bondage. Are you ready to go do some fishing? Grab your pole. Get your tackle ready. Set some priority time aside. Follow Jesus to the river bank and expect a great catch! "Come, follow me, . . . and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19).

COMMENTS BY GLEN AYCOCK

Fishing for men takes a willingness to dedicate time to the task. That time starts on our knees praying for the power of God to come down upon your effort. God has promised us to give us power for the task. Not only does He give power but His Holy Spirit directs us and arranges the contact with souls that need to be saved. Satan stays very busy trying to counter our determination to follow Christ commands. Often he says “this isn’t the right time or situation.” Another favorite tactic is to convince a person they are inadequate to tell somebody about God and it’s not their business. Friends God has ordered that our churches be out on assignment and confronting people with the opportunity to be saved. Don’t listen to the enemy but instead rise up and represent Christ. Remember the first order of business is to share what Christ can do to change a person’s life and save them from Spiritual death. Remember now is the day of salvation and there is going to be that moment which unknown to us when the last soul will be saved and Christ will return to gather them. Don’t delay and don’t wait to share today about Christ our Savior with anybody that will listen. We are not responsible for their lack of decision but our responsibility is to leave a witness. 

Prayer Thought:  Dear Jesus help us to remember that “People Need the Lord.”

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