A Big Fish Tale

 

Fishing has become my son’s biggest passion in life.  While at the beach this year with family friends, he caught a big fish!  Through the amazing abilities of technology, we were even able to face time him from home so he could hold it up for us.

Of course, as only a mother could do, I noticed his sunburn and tried to give him some friendly mom advice about sunscreen, to which I got his frustrated reply, “Mom, I just caught a huge fish!”

The big fish wasn’t an easy catch.  In fact, he and his buddy had been fishing for a good part of the day with no success to show.  He had even become sidetracked and laid down the rod when someone noticed it being pulled out into the ocean.

He worked and worked to pull it to shore and was even a little scared when someone thought he might be reeling in a small shark.  But it was just a big fish.  A 15 pound red fish.

Reminds me of another fishing story from long ago when Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee and saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew casting their nets into the sea.

He called out to them.  But more than that, He extended an invitation.

He said “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”.

Jesus was calling Peter and Andrew to become his disciples, to live their lives following Him.

He was calling them to share their faith.  He has called us to do the same.

For some, this call to sharing their faith appears to come easy.  My son, the one who loves to fish, began sharing his love of Christ with others at a very early age.  One afternoon on the playground at elementary school, he came to me and asked about a verse in the Bible and then ran off to share his faith with a friend.  He could not help but share his faith and his love of the Lord with those around him.

For others of us, this call to share our faith seems much harder.  Perhaps we have even set down our fishing rod and become sidetracked with our own lives, our own problems. Maybe we make it too complicated.  Maybe we just do not have time. Perhaps we become overwhelmed by Christ’s invitation to share His love with others.

Peter and Andrew probably shared our same feelings at times about sharing their faith. But scripture tells us, they laid down their nets and followed him.

When we follow Christ by spending time with Him each day in prayer and Bible study, sharing our faith will come naturally.  It is what we will talk about, what we will be passionate about.  When others are hurting we will show love and compassion.  When we are wounded we will show forgiveness.  And more than anything we can share our faith by showing love.

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13:35

I pray that each of us will joyfully answer Jesus’ call to share our faith, to set aside the chaos and distractions, and follow Him.

Perhaps He will provide us some fishing tales of our own.  Just don’t forget the sunscreen!