I’m not the best fisherman. In fact, I have several fishing stories about not catching fish while being with guys, and grandchildren, who do. One time a friend, after catching a bunch of slab crappie said, “let’s trade rigs,” you guessed it, he caught fish on my rig and his rig went silent,

I like to go by the bait shop on the way to fish to find out what is working. The best place to find out what fish are biting on is close to the counter. That’s where the “fishin’ pros” gather & talk. Usually you’ll hear, “What ’cha using?” (what bait has been effective). It all starts with selecting the right bait. What are the fish hungry for?

Jesus was the Master Fisherman. His first catch was Andrew, then Peter. His bait… being part of something bigger than themselves. Listen to His cast into their pool, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20

In Matthew 5 we find Jesus fishing to a multitude. He cast out the eternal Blessings of being a follower. Jesus added to His catch in Matthew 9:9, “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed Him.” In Mark 2 we find four men tearing a hole in a man’s roof to drop their friend down into the room so that Jesus could heal him. We find several times Jesus used His healing power to draw people to Him. In Mark 7 it was the mother with a daughter possessed by an evil spirit. And a deaf mute. In Mark 8 & 10 we find Jesus healing 2 blind men. In Luke 4 Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law of high fever and in Luke 5 Jesus healed a leaper and a paralytic man. There are many more examples, but my favorite is found in John 4 where Jesus went fishing at a well.

Jesus intentionally went to a specific well and waited on an outcast woman. The setting is in Samaria, hostile land for a Jew. But that didn’t matter to Jesus. It was about noon that day when the woman came to draw water. She came at that time so she would not experience the rejection of the other women when they drew water. But there Jesus was waiting on her. Listen to how the Master connected to the woman. “Give me a drink.” BAM. Don’t miss this. Jesus has just established that the woman has value. She has something to give, a drink. What followed is how Jesus works. He transforms people. Because the woman believed she was transformed from a woman with no worldly value to a woman with Kingdom Value. We find she became a woman of influence in John 4:39 “Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

We are called to be fishers of men. What will you use for bait? Would you use a hammer for bait? Many do. I had a conversation one day with a woman at Sam’s. She quickly told me she would have nothing to do with church because of the way she had been treated. Obviously, the hammer bait didn’t work. Then there is the dead bait, you know the negative, down & out person who doesn’t attract anyone. Stop living defeated lives and live in the victory of Jesus. God’s Word gives us clarity on how to approach our day…to live in Victory. He gave specific instructions in Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Did you get the key? We, like Joshua are to draw our strength, our courage, from God Himself, not ourselves.

It is with His power… His Way that we can see people the way Jesus did. Jesus saw value in the woman. He spoke to her just where she was. It’s time to “bait up” with the Joy of the Lord. “Every Soul Matters To God!”  Followers of Jesus have the Good News.

It’s time to fish.