Get the Net!

My husband, Ed, is an avid fisherman. He just loves to fish! He fishes whether it’s morning or evening, in all kinds of weather. He just loves to fish! Now, I like to fish, but I’m not as enthusiastic as he is. I just enjoy the peace and serenity, and being with him.

Recently, we went out on the lake in the cool of the evening. I wasn’t expecting to catch anything, but I hoped that he would, because I knew that it would make him happy to catch a fish, and I would be happy for him.

The water was a little choppy. It wasn’t white-capping, but the wind was up a little. We pulled into a cove, so that our boat would be a little more stable, and it wouldn’t be quite so windy. I almost always fish with a live worm. This was just what I was familiar with, and felt comfortable with. My husband, of course, had all kinds of artificial bait. He had spinner baits,crank baits, jigs, and just about every kind you could name. I decided to change things up a bit. “I think I’ll fish with an artificial worm this time,” I said. We had recently met Hank Parker, a professional fisherman, and he a talked a little bit about artificial worms, so I thought I’d broaden my horizons. 

My husband seemed a little surprised, but he tied an artificial worm onto to my line. It was a deep, dark blue color, and I liked it.  Ed fished from the front of the boat, and I fished from the back. We each cast several times, but we had no luck getting a bite. We were just enjoying the peace and quiet and stillness of the lake. I was getting close to the point where I was going to take a break. Suddenly, I felt a nudge at the end of my line, then another. I wasn’t sure if I’d had a nibble, or if my bait had just brushed the bottom. Calmly, I said, “I think I got a bite.” I waited a minute, but when nothing happened, I cranked in my bait. Nothing there. “I’ll throw one more time,” I thought, “Then, I’ll take a break.” 

I threw out as far as I could, and slowly cranked it back in. As I cranked, I felt some resistance, so I began to crank harder. My first thought was that I was either hung on some underbrush, or I had a fish. It didn’t take me long to know that I had a fish on my line. “I’ve got one!” I cried excitedly. Then, I remembered how many times that I had cranked and cranked, just to lose my fish before I could get him to the boat. I didn’t want that to happen this time. “Get the net!” I yelled. “Get the net; get the net; get the net!”

Ed dropped what he was doing, and ran to get the net. By this time, the fish was out of the water, and I swung my rod around, so that if the fish did, indeed, escape, he would fall onto the boat. What an exhilarating experience!

Likewise, Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:19 - “And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Do you know someone who needs Jesus? Sometimes, we get tired of fishing…DON’T QUIT!

Do we have the right bait: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL?

Do we know someone with experience? Are we in a good Bible-believing church, surrounded by like Christians, where we can hear the Word?

Have we checked the guidebook…God’s Holy Word?

Have we sought the help of others to join us in prayer for the lost? Have we asked them to, “Get the net?” 

Today, think of someone who needs Jesus. Cast your thoughts, your prayers, your efforts in that direction. You may feel a nudge. Be patient. Be still. Watch the Holy Spirit work. You may play a part in bringing someone to Jesus. You’ll be glad you did…and so will they!

Catch you later! Have a great Thursday!