If You Are Going to Fish, Then Bait Your Hook!

January 31   If You Are Going to Fish, Then Bait Your Hook!  Mark 1:16-20

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.”  (Mark 1:16-20 NKJV)

“I thought you wanted to go FISHING!”  That was the loud call from my Daddy as we gathered around the edge of the pond, with the purpose of “fishing!”  “Son, if you are going to fish, you have GOT to BAIT YOUR HOOK!!!” There I stood, casting an empty hook into the water, with an expectation of catching a fish.  When I reflect on that moment, I think about fellow believers that are supposed to be “Fishers of Men,” yet, are not even baiting their hooks!  Can you remember the very first time you felt the tugging of the Holy Spirit and the need to ask Jesus into your heart? Like the ones Jesus called that day, you and I were also called out of our own obscurity to become part of His Fishing Team. To become fishers of men, to tell others about the good news and frankly, just share what Jesus has done for us in our own lives. We willingly chose to become fishermen on Gods team and we were full of great aspirations, ideas and great hopes. We all felt the urgency to bring others into the family of God, before Jesus, one day would triumphantly return for us all. But through the years, some of us have become disenchanted along the way, we have chosen to become bench warmers if you will, and instead of remaining actively involved in carrying out, the final command of Jesus: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)  We, as True Followers of Christ, are called to be “Fishers of Men,” and that requires “Bait” of the Hooks!  It requires commitment, focus, faithful dedication, study, prayer, and Holy Spirit led action!!  We are living in “Perilous” times and it is time to stop “Acting” like we are “Fishing,” and “Bait our Hooks and start “Bringing in the Catch!!”  So, If You Are Going to Fish, Then Bait Your Hook!!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!!