“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Mark 1:17)
Jesus went fishing for fishermen one day and landed four keepers: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. What a catch! Then, Jesus turned it upside down. He took these fishermen fishing, cleaned them up, and gave them a new mission to be fishers of people.
Jesus practices catch and release. He fishes for us then sends us fishing.
My biologist buddy, Frank, worked for the Department of Natural Resources, monitoring fish populations in area lakes. When conducting fish counts, he first shocked the water, and then the stunned fish floated to the surface. I always figured it would be fun to go zap-fishing with Frank and his stun-gun boat.
One May, Frank was severely injured in a terrible traffic accident. While hospitalized far from home, Frank experienced a spiritual stunning. God zapped him and gave him a new mission.
“I would not be arrogant enough to compare my experience with St. Paul’s getting knocked off his donkey on the way to Damascus,” Frank said. “I just got knocked off my Subaru on my way to Indiana.”
Jesus caught Frank, the fish counter, and gave him a new purpose in life. After recovering from his injuries, Frank retired and launched Sons and Daughters of Zebedee, a mentoring program for children in the community. Mending leads to sending and that brings great fulfillment. As Frank says, “I’m fishin’ with a mission now.”
Remember that your mending place is your sending place.
Mark O. Wilson is assistant professor of discipleship, multiplication, and renewal at Southern Wesleyan University (SC) and author of “Filled Up, Poured Out”. Mark and his wife, Cathy, have five children.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
