Matthew 4:18-20 ESV — While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

A few weeks ago I shared memories with you about my childhood and a man named Archie in our church whobecame like family. We called him Uncle Archie. Another lady in the same church who we grew close to was Clefa, aka Aunt Clefa. Aunt Clefa’s personality was as unique as her name. She had a high pitched voice and due to her osteoporosis walked bent over. She had a standing hair appointment each Wednesday to dye her natural hair black and have a hair piece put on in the shape of a beehive. Aunt Clefa retired from a local plant and became my parents’ go-to babysitter for my brother and I. She and my dad shared a love for fishing. They began a routine of going fishing every Thursday on my dad’s day off and occasionally my brother and I were blessed by joining them. Aunt Clefa taught me how to bait a hook with a worm, how to sit quietly and patiently wait for the red and white float to bob up and down, and when to know just the right moment to pull up my Bream Buster pole and bring in my fish. While Aunt Clefa taught me a lot about fishing, Jesus has taught me even more.

Jesus calls you and I to be fishers of men. What does that mean to you? How do you fish for men? 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for trusting me to fish for You. Open my eyes to ways to be an effective fisher of men. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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