Fishers of Men

By Orlando Rosales, Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Chesapeake Conference

“When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.'”
–Luke 5:4 NLT

When we open up the passage of Luke 5, we see a few disciples, who were fishermen by trade, experience a long night of fishing that ends with no immediate reward. They began their evening with full expectations but concluded their night with empty nets. At dawn, when they had returned defeated, they saw Jesus on the shore and He told them to do the unexpected. He instructed them to go back out to the deeper waters and to try again (Luke 5:4). 

On the surface, this command was illogical as it was no longer dark and therefore much harder to catch fish. Also, they had already tried tirelessly all night with no success. But at the request of the Master, Peter said, “Nevertheless, at your word, I will cast the net” (Luke 5:5). As we read the rest of the story, we learn the subsequent catch was bountiful. It is after this miraculous experience that Jesus calls the disciples to become fishers of men. 

Like the disciples, the Lord has made us fishers of men also. Therefore, we have no doubt that success is secured by the power and command of His word. It is also worth highlighting that any effort that we make apart from Jesus will be fruitless. In the same manner He spoke to the disciples, Jesus now tells us to row out to deeper waters filled with challenges, and to places that appear to have little hope. He asks us to row toward situations that seem impossible by human standards. 

Rowing for Jesus requires time, commitment, patience and sacrifice, even more so in the circumstances that we currently live in with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not even a time of quarantine should halt our efforts to reach souls that need our Savior Jesus. The conditions are adverse, but our God is the God of miracles, and there is nothing impossible for Him.

May our involvement in evangelistic efforts allow us to see once again the wonders of God, and may it stir up the joy of His soon coming that we may receive the greatest reward of all.