The Call to be Fishers of Men: Lessons from Luke

Luke 5:1-11 is a familiar story of Jesus calling his first disciples, transforming ordinary fishermen into “fishers of men (people).” This passage transcends mere fishing, highlighting the universal call to share God’s love. The Sea of Galilee, a hub of daily life, became the stage for this extraordinary transformation.

Here is my personal fishing experience: Many years ago, when my 2 sons were still in Primary school, I took my family to a kelong in Malaysia. I completely overlooked the fact that it was monsoon season. Evening was falling, and I enthusiastically cast my line. Instead of a splash, I heard this horrible cracking sound, and then this searing pain in my head. Blood started pouring down my left eye. Turns out, my ‘expert’ cast sent the weight and hook swinging right back into my face.

This experience, beyond sobering me on the importance of checking weather forecasts, provided a lesson on the trials fishermen face. It underscored the skill, patience, and resilience required to navigate the sea. Today, it still reminds me about Jesus calling his disciples, men who knew those challenges intimately, to become fishers of people.

Just like real fishing, becoming a fisher of people isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you cast your line and you feel like you’re getting nothing. You put in the effort, but you don’t see immediate results. There are storms, and there are setbacks. But we must persevere, relying not on our own strength or skill, but on the grace and guidance of God.

Fisherman Qualities in a Disciple

Fishermen possess certain qualities that are remarkably like those needed by a disciple of Christ: Patience, Persistence, endurance, Discernment, Peacefulness.

They wait, try again, endure hardship, understand signs, and find calm. Yet, these qualities alone aren’t enough.

Just as fishermen need to learn their trade, disciples need training to effectively share their faith. God refines their inherent traits, directing them toward His purpose, transforming them from ordinary workers into effective fishers of people.

Three Essential Steps

Here are three essential steps on the journey to sharing God’s love:

1. Examine: Looking Inward with God’s Word:

Firstly, we must Examine ourselves through God’s word.

As we study Scripture, we discover how God intends us to live as his children. It renews our minds, allowing the Holy Spirit to mould us.

The Navigators’ Hand illustration aids this: Hear, Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate, all completed with Prayer.  Remember the Sunday school song: “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll be right”?

We must be right with God before sharing His Word.

2. Engage: Responding to God’s Call:

Secondly, we must Engage with God’s Word and respond to His call.

In Luke 5, Jesus boarded Simon’s boat. Jesus had healed his mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39), knew Simon was a fisherman, and the boat was available. Jesus taught from the boat and then instructed Simon on where to catch fish.

Simon, a seasoned fisherman, responded, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” (Luke 5:5). Yet, he obeyed. The result? A massive catch that nearly broke the nets.

My own life reminds me of this principle. For 21 years, my work involved ensuring pilots had reliable instruments. This secular experience mirrored my spiritual journey. Just as pilots need properly functioning tools, those called to ministry need to be equipped by God. My involvement in the BB ministry since 1976 stirred within me a growing sense of God’s calling.

Feeling inadequate, I pursued my theological training in SBC. Honestly, I was one of the weaker students, but thanks to the incredible support from my tutors and classmates, God used them to teach me humility and dependency on Him. Even with all my flaws, God enabled me to serve full-time, first as a parish worker, and then as a pastor, in several LCS congregations. I served for different lengths of time – from a short six months, to a humbling eight years in QLC, and a brief period with ILSM.

Wherever I served, I felt guided by God through 3 spiritual exercises to engage with His Word to overcome challenges by His grace and not by my own thoughts or feelings:

• Listening to the Holy Spirit
• Meditating on scripture
• Daily Bible reading.

These exercises formed the core of my weekly meetings mentoring young adults in QLC. We shared devotional insights, encouraged growth, and fostered community. This is discipleship: shared learning and support.

Yet, we must ask: are we casting our nets deep into God’s Word? Do we allow obstacles to hinder us? Like Simon, we may hesitate, but obedience, trusting the Holy Spirit, is key.

As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” It underscores the transformative power of God’s Word, highlighting its ability to shape us into vessels fit for His purpose.

3. Equip: Bearing Witness and Testifying:

As disciples, we are called to Equip ourselves, bearing witness and testifying to God’s love. After his conversion, Paul did just that (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). But can we do this alone?

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)

Think of Moses at the Red Sea, Joshua at the Jordan River, and Jesus at the Cross. Like them, we must trust in God’s power. As members of God’s church, a community of forgiven sinners, we recognize Jesus’ divinity. Like the disciples, we are called to a new path, bearing witness to Jesus.

Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me … Therefore go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Conclusion

As God’s children, let us Examine, Engage, Be Equipped to be Fishers of Men.

Jim Lee