Few words are more inspiring to those of us who long to help others walk more closely with God than these ones, spoken by Jesus: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17b, MEV).

Jesus could have chosen many metaphors for making disciples, but He chose fishing. Why? Because the best fishermen understand a few things every man who wants to reach other men needs to know:

You have to put a line in the water. Fish don’t jump into the boat. Neither do men usually wander into the Kingdom by accident. People rarely come to faith unless someone takes the initiative.

There must be a hook at the end of the line. Good intentions alone don’t catch fish. At some point, people need an invitation to take a next step toward Jesus. A simple invitation to coffee is a good place to start.

There must be bait on the hook. The gospel never changes, but the way we connect it to people’s lives can and often should. Hope, purpose, forgiveness, peace, answers to hard questions, genuine friendship, and even the pain of loneliness are all ways God awakens spiritual hunger.

You need to cast reasonably close to a fish. We can’t influence people we never meet. Fishing begins with relationships.

Different fish go for different bait. Every person has a different story. A wise fisherman pays attention before choosing how to engage.

You need to know when to set the hook. Some people are ready immediately. Others need time. Push too hard, and they may pull away. Wait too long, and the opportunity may pass.

You need to know how to set the hook. Fishing is a skill, and so is helping people take a step toward Jesus. The more we practice, the better we become.

Then comes the joy of reeling in the fish. Yet even then, many fish make one final attempt to avoid it. In the same way, people often face their greatest doubts, fears, or resistance just before making a decision to follow Jesus. That’s why we don’t give up. We keep praying, encouraging, and loving them.

My point is simple: If we want to become fishers of men, we need more than good intentions. We need to learn the craft and practice it with patience, wisdom, courage, and perseverance.

And, most importantly, all is for naught if we don’t love the fish.

Follow Jesus, and He will make you a fisher of men. But if you want to actually catch fish, it’s also good to know a thing or two about fishing.

Always on your side,

Pat

For Reflection and Discussion

• Heart (Reflect): Think about who helped lead you to Jesus. What “bait” did they use, and how did they “set the hook” to help you take your next step?
• Head (Understand): Do you agree that it’s most important that we love the people we’re trying to “catch”? Why or why not?
• Hands (Apply): What step will you take this week to put a line with a hook in the water with someone God has brought across your path (e.g., invite an acquaintance to get coffee, make lunch plans with a younger man from work, ask a neighbor’s family over for dinner, etc.)?