Mark 1:16-20 – “And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him”.
Catching fish was nothing new to these four future disciples, they had been fishermen all of their lives. They knew about boats, tides, nets, and storms. They also knew about hard work, partnership, and other business practices. They were about to put everything they had known from their past endeavors to work, now they were going to be fishers of men.
How would all of this come about? Well it started by following this first simple step, follow Jesus. That’s where any satisfying and successful life has to begin, lay down your own ambitions and take up His. Follow Jesus in your day to day life. Spend time with Him, give Him your boat, give Him your time and talents, and most of all give Him your heart. This was the beginning of a lifelong adventure for these young men, it could be the beginning of a lifelong adventure for you as well.
The next lesson was all about the fishers of men part. As these four disciples spent time with Jesus they begin to see what Jesus and His calling was all about. The Lord became a man because He loved people. He loves all people from the fisherman to the tax collector. He loved the prostitute as well as the academic Pharisee. Jesus was a fisherman and was teaching these fishermen how to really catch some fish.
So what about us; what about you and me. These same two calls are for all of us today, “Follow Me and I will make you a fisher of men”. Follow Jesus with your heart, seek Him daily in the Word of God and prayer. Follow Him with Your resources. Recognize we are partners together with Him with our finances and our talents. Following Jesus and becoming a fisherman is the key to true happiness and true soul prosperity. Listen carefully today to His voice, “FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU BECOME FISHERS OF MEN”.