Fishermen have “Reel” Purpose

Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.

Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.

“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.

When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?

Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?

When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?

Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."