(Read Matthew 4:17-22)
There’s a young man I know who has a bigger heart than many his age. Jesus said if we have even the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Well, this young man has so much more faith than that. When I asked him what he loves to do more than anything else in the world he said, “Fishing and interacting with people.”
We met the first time my wife and I attended our new Life Group. We were a little hesitant, never having participated in a group setting where you actually shared your inner-most thoughts about faith and life. The host and his wife were the only ones we knew heading into this group. There in the corner of the kitchen was a young man in a wheelchair wearing a Cowboys hat, smiling at me. We got to talking and probably 15 seconds into our conversation, he asked me if liked fishing.
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-20
Ever since that night, we have been friends. We rib each other about sports (I mean the Cowboys – really?), getting skunked fishing, general stuff guys razz each other about, and things I won’t mention here. While we truly enjoy each other’s company in any setting, I believe it’s when we’re fishing when we let our guard down.
In Jesus’ day, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for a rabbi to have disciples pick up and follow him. So, there was nothing cult-like about Simon and Andrew immediately leaving their nets to follow Jesus. My friend dropped his net to follow Jesus in middle school. “A man, who was kind of like another Dad to me, and our youth pastor were a big part of this decision for me,” he said. He couldn’t climb into the Baptismal tub in church, so some time later, he and his sister were Baptized in a pool.
“I was kind of fragile then, and I wasn’t ready to talk publicly about my faith.” If you heard him share about his faith now, you wouldn’t believe he was ever shy about it. His grasp of the Gospel is pure, concise, and spot-on. We talked about the toxic setting of middle and high school. I asked him how he survived in that environment. He replied with conviction, “My faith and people helped me get through it.” In hindsight, I should have asked him how he thrived, not survived?
How have you felt God’s presence in your life?
This question triggered an emotional response from him. He told me, “Well I have many examples of God in my life. While in a choir rehearsal one day, my wheel got caught on the stage and I nearly took a dive.” We figured that he was nearly four or five feet above the auditorium floor. Had he gone over the edge in his wheelchair, he could have suffered serious physical harm. It was one of those times when the gravity of something impacts you after the fact. “It hit me later,” he told me. “A few classes later, I was like oh wow.” I must have been pretty shook up, because, “I got a needed hug from a teacher.”
My friend’s high school was a mixed crowd. There were believers, non-believers, good, and bad kids like most any high school. One thing that my friend wanted to do was to be the best version of himself. Shortly after graduation, he applied for a job. “I didn’t want to be one of those people who graduated from high school and did nothing,” he said. “I was astonished at how quickly getting the job happened for me.” He told me that without a doubt, it was God’s work in action. And unlike many people, my friend has been with the same company for 11 years and counting.
“Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
John 5:7-8
As I mentioned earlier, my friend travels and spends most of his life in a wheelchair. He was born with Cerebral Palsy. I asked him if he is frustrated by his daily challenges or if he feels that God is using him for His glory. “I think both,” he answered. “Believe me, I have plenty of days when I feel frustrated, but I have never questioned God about my condition. I don’t blame God for this.” He continued, “I’m not perfect, I make mistakes every single day, it’s called being human.”
I never know what God’s exact plans are for anything I do in life. Sometimes He’s more transparent than others. I firmly believe that the purpose of writing about my favorite fishing friend this week is because of the sheer joy and encouragement this guy shares with his world and this world. “I think my faith encourages others,” he explained. Another mutual friend is going through some drastic life changes and he looks to my fishing buddy for light and exhortation. That says something!
“Faith is found when tested”
For more than 19 years, my friend has been a firm believer of Jesus Christ. His walk with Jesus might not be the same as ours, but it is just as real and as meaningful, and life affirming. When God reached out to him while my friend was in middle school, He was calling my friend to help share the Gospel.
Did God give my friend this amazingly intense passion for fishing because He thinks it’s a cool and blessed pasttime? Yeah, maybe. My buddy knows more about fishing than most of the people my age. He has probably logged 1,000 hours watching fishing videos on YouTube. He keeps telling me that it’s time to switch my lures. But with God, there are no coincidences. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus tells his soon-to-be disciples that He will “make you fishers of men.” This means that if you decide to follow Jesus, you accepted the call to his mission. For believers, when called to ministry it’s not “if,” it’s instead “how.”
The phrase “fishers of men” could also be translated, “catch men alive.” Either God will catch people alive or the fallen world will catch them alive. “Faith gives me hope,” my friend confided. His positivity shined through his admission. “It keeps me from making poor decisions and gives me hope that there is a good future.”
My friend is about my son’s age, and for a young man to be so wise about life, the world, and God is truly inspiring. He’s an unofficial greeter at our church, working the room leading to the Sanctuary, giving hugs, smiles, hellos, and advice to the visitors. I get choked up when I realize how uplifting he is to others, despite how he’s feeling on any particular day. “It’s not easy every day to get up, but I get up every day.” I have seen him bothered but never without hope. I’ve seen him uncomfortable, but never complaining.
He’s a lighthouse which is a good connection to the fishing theme. His faith is infectious. His outlook, his smile, and selflessness draw people to him like flies to honey. He is truly a fisher of people. Jesus called, and my friend not only listened, but is answering. “I am always willing to listen to people. I hear their advice, but I always respond with my Christian faith as my guide.” Like a true patient fisherman, he takes one day at a time.
“Religion is a man sitting in church thinking about fishing. Christianity is a man sitting at a lake fishing, and thinking about God.”
Key Applications:
- Find a passion not related to your work. We all have something, a talent, gift, or desire to do awesome things. Most of us know what they are. It’s a shame to not use the Gifts God gave us to lift ourselves, and more importantly, others. Use this to make someone’s life easier, better, or just happier.
- Read Matthew 4. Not everyone would drop their lives to follow a teacher with an uncertain future. How would you respond? Has Jesus called you? How did you answer? Listen, pay attention for signals that He is asking you for help. My friend did and is still doing the Lord’s work. We should too.
- Look around. There are a lot of people we encounter to encourage and support. We can provide comfort and show mercy to people going through adversity in their lives. Add a moment to your prayers each day to focus on someone who you feel deserves God’s mercy and your love. They will receive it.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.