Fishing advice came within a recent fortune cookie. I am not interested in doing any fishing; in the past, I had better luck catching seaweed and it wasn’t my cup of tea. However, Jesus taught His friends to be fishers of men, and we have all be called to make Him known. This particular fortune cookie advised to, “Let your hook be always cast. In the pool where you least expect it, will be fish.”
When you consider fishing for men, this is the best advice. We should always have our hook cast. We should always be ready to share the reason for our hope. Where we often go wrong is when we decide who and when and how everything should happen. We box ourselves in when we think our witnessing will be to a specific person or group in a specific way at a specific time. We limit what God can do through us when we do not live as if the hook is always cast—the opportunity for God to move to always be possible.
The truth is we are witnessing with every word and deed. The truth is that the world does not need people to try to show others that they have the right answer in Jesus, but to instead love upon the world and through this love, the world may come to know Jesus. It is in the moments when you are being real, in the moments when you are being you, in the moments when you are not trying to “win one for the team,” that you will truly glorify God and share the mighty power and love of Christ Jesus. When you least expect it, the Spirit will move, and people will come to know the truth of God. You are never hooking anyone. You are also never opening eyes. The Good News is always cast because of the Spirit of God and because of His goodness and grace. We are mere vessels with the privilege to be used by God for His Kingdom building.
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” – 1 Peter 3:15 [NLT]
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35 [CSB]
Tania Gutekunst 