‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ Matthew 4:19
When you follow Jesus, you’ll inevitably end up at the lake, fishing for the lost.
Followers of Jesus should be consistently throwing Gospel nets into the waters of everyday conversations, hoping to catch lost souls and bring them to Christ. It’s a central part of following Jesus.
But many Christians focus on going to church, reading their Bibles, singing worship songs, and fellowshipping with fellow believers—all good things—without ever sharing the Gospel with people around them.
Why? Because evangelizing requires skin in the game. It opens you up to mockery and marginalization. You can lose friends over it.
But isn’t this part of picking up your cross? Dying to self begins with risking a social death.
Jesus said that following Him means you’re willing to be sent out to “fish for people.”
The stark reality is this: If you’re not consistently sharing the Gospel in your daily life, you may not be following Jesus as closely as you think.
The call to cast your line
So start.
Remember your commission from Christ:
‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…’ Matthew 28:19
Repent from your lack of evangelistic obedience.
Return to the lake and start fishing—today!
Jesus has empowered you with His Holy Spirit so you can fish effectively. As He promised His disciples:
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.’ Acts 1:8
One of my personal goals is to share Jesus every single day. Every morning, I pray that God will lead me to at least one opportunity to cast the line. And how God loves to answer this prayer!
Last night, my wife and I checked into a hotel, and the receptionist, Ashley, was so open to hearing the good news of Jesus.
Fishing takes practice
Sure, sometimes I have a “bad day” of fishing. Sometimes I snag the line with a weak response to a hard question. Sometimes I get a fish on the hook that fights and ends up breaking the line.
But it’s worth it for the one who is ready to be caught. It’s worth it just to be obedient to our Lord—the master fisherman, Jesus Christ.
Maybe you don’t know how to fish. Well, the best way to learn is to start.
If you don’t know where to begin, here’s a five-minute crash course on how to fish for people and effectively share the Gospel:
Now, grab your net! There’s a world out there that needs Jesus.
