Do you ever struggle with the people you work with? I remember Marion, a woman who reported to me in my first professional management position. Because of her disposition, she terrified me. I did not enjoy checking on the status of her deliverables every day. Imagine my surprise and delight when one day she came to my office and said she accepted Jesus into her heart at a weekend church service that she was invited to attend.

Marion told me the way I loved her when she was unlovable and occasionally mentioned Jesus’ name is partially why she agreed to go to church with her friend that Sunday. She saw something different in me that she wanted. She associated it with my love for Jesus. It was my attempt to imitate or follow Jesus’ ways that caused Marion to be interested in going to church with her friend.

When Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee one day, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen, casting a net into the lake. They were not out for an afternoon of restful fishing. Fishing was their job.

Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me” … “and I will send you out to fish for people (Matthew 4:19-20).” Simon and Andrew already knew Jesus. He had talked to them previously (John 1:35-42) and had been preaching in the area. Because they saw something different in Jesus that they wanted for themselves, they immediately left their nets and followed Jesus. These two men left their jobs to follow Jesus and begin fishing for men.

In the same way, Jesus calls everyone who loves him to become fishers of men. For most of us, this does not mean leaving our job or business to become a full time evangelist or missionary. Jesus is asking all of us to make it a priority to be productive spiritually and fish for souls. If we learn to love others like Jesus, practice his teachings and share the Good News with others, we will be able to draw those around us to Jesus like a fisherman who pulls nets filled with fish into his boat.

Do you see the people you interact with daily as merely people? Or, do you see them as souls who are destined for an eternal residence in heaven or hell?

What if Jesus asked you to follow him and begin to fish for lost souls? Well, he did.

1. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about this directive?

2. What are you going to do about it?

3. Who are you going to tell?