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A Parable of a Fisherman
11/17/2004
"Come,
follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Mark 1:17
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will
catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and
followed him.
Luke 5:11
Many years ago I stumbled across a parable that went something to this effect,
"A young man was taken by his dad to fish. The father showed his son how to
bait the hook, where to cast the line, and then how to land a fish! Sometimes
they would catch so many fish they would run out of bait before nightfall. Other
times they caught nothing. However, even in their disappointment, both would be
excited to fish at the next opportunity!
One day there was a fishing tournament in the neighboring town. The boy asked
the father if he could participate. Upon the father's approval, he entered the
tournament and won by catching the largest as well as the greatest number of
fish! All the papers and local TV news shows covered the event. He became so
well known that he was asked to travel and give motivational speeches on fishing
to groups of fishermen. However, the more he spoke, the less he fished. In time,
he even received a PhD in "fishology." Then, he opened his own school
on fishing. He had many students who were enthusiastic to learn the techniques
of how to be a successful fisherman. Yet, the classes were so all-consuming the
students had no time to go fishing. Then one day at the school, a new student
asked the Professor, "When was the last time you caught a fish?"
The Professor paused and stumbled
on his words. Then the perplexed student naively asked, "Well, when was the
last time you went fishing?"
The Professor's honest answer
was, "Many years ago!" Disillusioned, the student said, "Well
Professor, is one a fisherman if he never goes fishing?"
The last question is piercing in
its simplicity, "Is one a fisherman if he never goes fishing?"
Likewise many today call themselves disciples of Christ, yet they never
"fish for men." Granted, "it is by grace [one] is
saved...not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Yet if one appreciates the grace of God, one will fish for souls! Paul says, "But
by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.
No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was
with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Those who preach "cheap
grace" say to not be concerned about "works." Yet like baptism,
which the evangelical world considers "a work," our efforts for Christ
are "acts of faith" motivated by our appreciation of God's grace.
(Colossians 2:12) Jesus lays out what it takes to be a Christian, a disciple:
Mark 1:17 "Come,
follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would
come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow
me.'"
Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his
father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even
his own life--he cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:33 "In the same way, any of you who does not give
up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
Matthew 9:38 "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to
send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.'"
Let us consider Jesus' words in
Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven." Obedience to all the above commands does not earn our
salvation. However, if we fail to strive to obey them Jesus says we are not
disciples, not true Christians and not saved. Why? Because we are not responding
to God's grace with "acts of faith." Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58
writes, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move
you. ALWAYS give yourselves FULLY to the work of the Lord, because you know that
your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Consider the parable on a
personal and congregational level. Ask yourself, "When was the last time I
went fishing for men?" Am I ALWAYS and FULLY giving myself to the work of
the Lord? Have I forgotten the grace of God that saved me? (2 Peter 1:8-9)
The Lord has been blessing our
congregation with so much fruit! (John 15:8) Again this Sunday we had another
baptism and restoration! Both Krista Cameron and Lupe Sanchez are sisters with
deep convictions. I have been particularly inspired by our newest sister Krista
who already has two of her friends studying the Bible! This is the plan of
Jesus, for fishermen to make other fishermen! Let us all be praying for boldness
and perseverance. As in the parable, there will be days we catch nothing.
However, if we are with "our Dad" and we are excited for the next
opportunity to fish, one day we will land a big fish!
Kip McKean
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