Well, this has been a huge, very prominent weekend for northeastern Oklahoma. Just in case you didn’t know, the professional BASS fishing tournament was at Grand Lake this weekend. This is one of, if not the largest of the BASS tournaments. Literally millions of dollars are spent by these professional fishermen and the businesses that sponsor them. The advertising alone is tremendous. People come from all over the United States to both, participate in and just watch this fishing tournament here in N.E. Oklahoma that is finishing up today.
Now, why did I go into all of this? Because I can’t help but think, what would it be like if we were to get this excited about our fishing, the fishing we are to do as Christians. Do you remember what Jesus told the Apostles they were being called to do, what they were to do if they truly followed Him? Listen to what Jesus told them when He called them as recorded by Matthew in Matthew 4:19 where Jesus said, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”” Jesus wanted these men to follow him and bring others to follow Him as well. They were to be “fishing” for, trying to bring others to Christ as well. Did this apply just to them? Absolutely not! Notice what the apostle Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2. “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Even in the O.T. those who served God knew the importance of bringing others to God. Notice what Solomon said in Proverbs 11:30 where he said, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” And then, in Daniel we read these words, “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Do you think it just might be important to our God and our Saviour that we be “fishers of men?” Again, I ask, why can’t we get as excited about saving men’s souls for eternity, saving men’s souls from the fires of hell as we can about catching a bunch of fish out of a lake? Question; how many of those fish in that lake will be left when the Lord comes back? How much of that prize money and trophies will be left when the Lord comes back? How many of those big fancy boats will be left when the Lord returns?
Now, think about this! Think about what it will be like to be standing before the judgement seat of Christ. You have dedicated your life to the Lord and served Him to the best of your ability. But, as you are standing there, you look around you and standing there, right next to you, are people that are there because you reached out to them with the gospel. Because you went fishing for them and now, they are there with no fear because of what you did. What will that be like?
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
Now, why did I go into all of this? Because I can’t help but think, what would it be like if we were to get this excited about our fishing, the fishing we are to do as Christians. Do you remember what Jesus told the Apostles they were being called to do, what they were to do if they truly followed Him? Listen to what Jesus told them when He called them as recorded by Matthew in Matthew 4:19 where Jesus said, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”” Jesus wanted these men to follow him and bring others to follow Him as well. They were to be “fishing” for, trying to bring others to Christ as well. Did this apply just to them? Absolutely not! Notice what the apostle Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2. “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Even in the O.T. those who served God knew the importance of bringing others to God. Notice what Solomon said in Proverbs 11:30 where he said, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” And then, in Daniel we read these words, “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Do you think it just might be important to our God and our Saviour that we be “fishers of men?” Again, I ask, why can’t we get as excited about saving men’s souls for eternity, saving men’s souls from the fires of hell as we can about catching a bunch of fish out of a lake? Question; how many of those fish in that lake will be left when the Lord comes back? How much of that prize money and trophies will be left when the Lord comes back? How many of those big fancy boats will be left when the Lord returns?
Now, think about this! Think about what it will be like to be standing before the judgement seat of Christ. You have dedicated your life to the Lord and served Him to the best of your ability. But, as you are standing there, you look around you and standing there, right next to you, are people that are there because you reached out to them with the gospel. Because you went fishing for them and now, they are there with no fear because of what you did. What will that be like?
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
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