Hosanna Restoration Church

I was thinking that when you go fishing it works best to use some bait. I have fished in places where the fish would bite on an empty hook, but they have to be pretty starved to do that. I have also fished when it did not matter what bait you used they just did not want to bite.

Well, I think the same can be said of fishing for men. Sometimes people are so hungry that it does not take much bait. When we fish for fish, unless we are catching and releasing, we are not too concerned about how long they live. However, when it comes to fishing as Jesus was teaching, we not only want them in the boat, but we want to keep them alive as well. If someone is hungry and they come without much bait, it is still necessary that they get fed. I had a man once who came to our church and afterwards said that he had always wondered if there was a gospel for saved people. He was glad to find that there was more than just being continually caught.

Jesus spent His time in His earthly ministry showing the disciples how to fish for men. He showed them what the bait was and how to properly present it. As He went He not only brought in the catch, but He fed them well after they were in the boat. He taught them about the Kingdom of God. He revealed to them what real life was all about.

Of course even with this there were those who abandoned ship, but He just kept fishing. He taught those professional fishermen how to keep fishing even when they were about to give up. Just as they brought in more than would fit in the boat at His command, so it is that God has large catches in store for those who will keep fishing.

Bait sounds like a strange word for fishing for people, but it really is what ever it takes to attract people to the Lord. Jesus did not give us things to trick people into the Kingdom of God, rather He offers the real thing. There is no disappointment in the real thing. There are no rubber worms!

Fishing Jesus way is using all the good and precious promises of God. Fishing Jesus way follows up with Him confirming His word with signs and wonders. Fishing Jesus way uses the truth that sets men free. When we fish His way, we are the light of the world and there are happy fish everywhere. That is the kind of fisherman I want to be. I intend to learn from the best. And Jesus is the Lord of all.