The Master Angler
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The following article has been excerpted from Called to the Wild by Christopher Lawrence.
“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
-Luke 5:10
I CREPT QUIETLY along the edge of the mountain lake, expectantly. I swayed my rod back and forth in a ten to two o’clock rhythm and then carefully released. The fly landed softly on the still waters of the mountain lake, beckoning.
But no trout bit. The same scenario repeated itself for the next couple of hours, my mediocre technique partly to blame.
That day’s excursion proved typical of most of my fly-fishing endeavors. While the scenery is inviting, the casting poetic, I hardly catch anything—which is why the experience usually frustrates me.
Honestly, I often feel the same way about talking to others about Jesus—it’s too hard, takes too much patience and often I want to do something with more “results.”
Yet Luke 5 should encourage us. Not just for the miracle, but because Jesus says that He will make us into “fishers of people.” The Master Angler knows just how to perfect our technique, making us more dependent on him and compassionate for those who don’t know him.
Prayer remains critical, as we ask for God’s help. “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).
Because God hears us, we can expect an answer, though not always what we expect. This communication helps build the relationship.
His unconventional methods may surprise us, like when Jesus told the disciples to cast into the deep water. Any good fisherman knew no fish would be there. Yet the nets overfilled with fish.
We soon learn the most important part of fishing is not our effort, but the work that God does—his love flowing through us to draw people to himself. It’s not so much perfecting a form but learning to trust a Person.
Indeed, the best anglers enjoy the process. Fishing beside the Master, we can rest content whether we land a prize or not. As Cru founder Bill Bright said, “Success in witnessing is taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”
And so, we stay in the stream, listening to Jesus and casting in faith. In time, we may see the type of catch we long for. Either way, time spent pursuing others alongside Christ is a deeply fulfilling effort.
Question:
In what ways do you struggle with “results” in talking with others about Christ? How might the experience change as you acknowledge the outcome isn’t dependent on your skill or expertise?
Prayer:
Lord, help make me into the fisherman you want me to be. Increase my desire to talk to others about you, even when it is hard. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, help me to depend on you and trust you for the results.
From one Adventurer to Another
Called to the Wild is a 40-day journey filled with thrilling adventure stories and poignant Biblical meditations, through which outdoor guide and Cru campus minister, Chris Lawrence, helps readers overcome fear and self-doubt by learning to follow Jesus as their trustworthy Guide through life’s every adventure.
