(By Lois Robinson)
Years ago, a counseling teacher taught me a few things about fishing. He told those of us in the class that fish are different, and they like different bait and even different types of rigs. “Hmmm”, I thought, “maybe that’s one reason I have never been very successful at the art of fishing.” My thought was, “Just get a line, put a hook on it, grab a worm, drop it in the water and I better catch something in five minutes or I’m leaving!” The old instant gratification condition won most of the time. I would still want seafood though, which was why I went fishing in the first place. So to solve my current dilemma I would spend money I didn’t have to buy it at a restaurant!
Fishing didn’t become one of my favorite things to do because it was too much work! I was more than happy to spend money in the store, or better yet a restaurant, because it was even less work!
Are you seeing a pattern here? I wanted to avoid as much work as possible. Instead, I was willing to go into debt, being a poor steward of finances, just to get what I wanted!
Let’s go back even further now; I was taught in Sunday School a wonderful little song called ‘I will make you Fishers of Men.” Wait a Minute! How does this all connect?! Well, the Gospels in the Bible tell the story of how Jesus fished for men/women/children. He carefully chose the way he would love them to build relationship in order to bring them to a better understanding of their Father’s love and purposes for their lives.
But let’s not stop there. There is another very important truth in this fishing example we must not be ignorant to.
The bible clearly states:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” Hosea 4:6
“Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.” Isaiah 5:13
The counseling teacher’s point in the lesson was not about fishing for people on Jesus’ behalf but how the devil himself is a fisherman as well. His purpose is to destroy us! The teacher demonstrated how the enemy sits, chooses the bait, schemes, baits the hook, drops the line at the most opportune time and desperately wants us to bite! As any real fisherman knows, the bait stays out in the water for a while usually, and the fish who are hungry smell it for miles. As the bait lingers in the water, saturating the surrounding water, the fish swim toward it. At first it may be just a “swim by,” then they come back to nibble, toying with it you could say. Not biting but dabbling. As their appetite grows for the bait.... BAM....they’re hooked and reeled in! From the shore, you can see the fisherman’s face light up. He has conquered the fish! I would encourage you to take a look at yourself as the holidays are over. Some will worship themselves by denying the birth of Jesus, some will worship debt, some will worship depression, some will worship anything or anybody but Jesus. Some will choose to Worship Jesus Fully.
These questions are designed to help you know your bait preferences.
1. What kind of fish are you?
2. What kind of bait are you attracted to?
3. Are you just nibbling, “swimming by” with interest or ready to bite?
4. Is it Jesus bait? This gives life.
5. Is it Satan bait? This will kill you.
6. What fisherman will be happy when you take the bait that interests you?
Jesus our King or the father of lies?
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