Delores Liesner
Activating Faith in everyday life
Be a Catcher!
I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men
I will make you fishers of men, if you follow me…
Our toddlers learned that in Sunday School and years later, I finally understand what Jesus was telling them. I will make you catchers of men….
What’s different between being a fisher and a catcher?
The fishers have to find the fish – they sometimes wait for hours to locate them, then they proceed to fish for them using varied tools, lures, or nets. Then their work begins, reeling or hauling them in.
The catcher?
They receive what is brought to them. The one who presents the ‘catch’ to them has chosen them, led them, gathered them, guided them, drawn them.
That work has been done for us.
Do you recall the story? Luke 5:2-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the [a]people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but [b]I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ [c]feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were [d]James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
John 6:44 (NASB) “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 14:6 (NASB) Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus does the drawing but allows each person to respond by believing two things::
Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
In Luke’s story Jesus drew the fish into the net that all day had found nothing. Bible scholars teach that this was a huge net – probably a half-mile square.
If we understand this illustration was showing that God would draw or call the men to whom the disciples would minister. So if God could do what the professional fishermen/soon to be disciples could not, who will do the transformation in their lives?
Have you become a catcher of men, and find God bringing people to you for your prayer, support and training?
This cute song by the Gaithers, uniquely explains that nothing eternal is accomplished by a temporal source. Only through God’s work can we be His catchers!
What or who has God drawn and brought to you this week? What have you done with that gift and calling?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hWkNyZ_UMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mb6RH2ZIvo
Be the Miracle! – with journaling pages
Delores Liesner: Author
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
Delores Liesner 