“And Jesus, strolling along the Sea of Galilee, observed two siblings, Simon, designated Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the waters; Then He addressed them, Follow Me, and I will transform you into fishers of men. ” – Matthew 4:18,19

I was perusing a devotional authored by David Roper in which he recounted a friend with whom he would fish. This companion would spend 15 minutes perched on the tailgate of the truck scanning for rising fish in the water. “No use fishing where they ain’t,” his companion would remark. Roper reflects that this provoked him to ponder whether he was “fishing for souls where they aren’t. ”

When Jesus was seated in the residence of Matthew the tax collector, He was accompanied by other tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees inquired about His actions and the intentions behind His deeds; Jesus replied to them, “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are ill. ” Jesus understood that He needed to be amidst those who were sinners for them to receive His teachings and come to know and love Him.

Contemporary Christians often resemble the Pharisees; they prefer to remain within their comfort zones among individuals like themselves, desiring to associate primarily with what we refer to in the South as “church folk. ” While it is crucial to be surrounded by others who can provide encouragement and assist in maintaining faith, if one exclusively surrounds themselves with church folk, they are “fishing where they ain’t. ”

Jesus informed the disciples that He would make them “fishers of men,” and the same principle applies to us as Christians today. We are called to be fishers of men and extend our nets into waters populated with fish rather than remain on the shore, apprehensive about entering the boat.

Modern fishermen equip their vessels with advanced fish finders to determine the optimal locations for dropping their nets for a substantial catch. While as fishers of men we lack sophisticated fish finders, we do know where to look to secure a catch; we must simply emulate Jesus by mingling with sinners instead of only associating with church folk.

In the book “Unchained” by Max Gober, he narrates his life as an outlaw biker, a drug addict, and a complete “hell raiser. ” In case you are unfamiliar with Max Gober, he is the founder of Canaan Land located in Birmingham, Alabama. When Max surrendered his life to Christ, he committed wholeheartedly; he would venture out each night to share the message of Jesus Christ. Following his witnessing efforts, he would escort individuals to his pastor’s residence in the middle of the night, knock on the door, and declare, “I got one,” after which the pastor would guide them through a sinner’s prayer.

Max Gober understood that in order to capture fish, he needed to cast his net in areas populated by them. He did not confine himself within a church, embracing a mentality that suggested, “If we construct it, they will come. ” Rather, Max emulated Jesus, engaging with sinners directly. He frequented bars and returned to the places of his past; Max is not a white glove Christian, nor does he hesitate to venture into turbulent waters to seek souls.

In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus recounts a parable about the lost sheep, illustrating that if a man possesses one hundred sheep and one strays, he will leave the ninety-nine to locate the lost one, celebrating its return. This parable highlights the lost souls that we Christians often neglect to pursue; for every individual that turns to Christ, the angels in heaven rejoice. Jesus abandoned the comforts of heaven, came to Earth in human form, and experienced suffering so that we might attain eternal life. He left His place of ease, associated with sinners, and faced disdain from the religious establishment.

I observe numerous Christians who decline to associate with individuals outside their faith. I have even encountered a church member questioning, “What are they doing here? ” referring to someone deemed unworthy of entering the Lord’s house. Many Christians behave as if another’s sin might transfer to them upon close contact; we have become overly preoccupied with our image at the expense of witnessing to nonbelievers.

As a child, we rode our bicycles to the river to fish, the optimal fishing spot requiring passage through a dense briar patch. We consistently battled our way through the thorny vines, motivated by the reward that awaited us, preferring not to fish in areas devoid of biting fish. After a day of fishing, emerging with our bounty, the discomfort from the scratches and thorns seemed entirely justifiable.

When we seek souls, we must navigate through some briar patches to reach the finest fishing hole. Our life’s briar patches may include those who curse, consume alcohol, and engage in various other behaviors, but we must persevere to achieve our catch. If your circle consists solely of Christians and your activities are confined to areas populated by fellow believers, you may find yourself “fishing where there aren’t any. ”
Engaging with nonbelievers represents the initial phase of “fishing. ” Following this is affection, a compassionate heart that perceives beyond their casual comments and attunes itself to the profound lament of the spirit. When you listen with sincerity, you will discern that sinner, that companion inquiring, “Could you elaborate on Jesus, could you share more about your beliefs? ”

Consider the impact if every individual in your congregation were to cast their nets into depths known to capture souls. If they would merely transition from their comfort zones into realms where healing is essential and the fish are abundant. As Christians, we are called to differ from the world in our conduct, yet we must remain present in it, just as Jesus did.

“Let him know that he who redirects a sinner from the error of his ways will salvage a soul from death and conceal a multitude of transgressions. ” James 5:20 (NKJV).

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