The world is like a sea filled with fish, and Christ is like the merciful fisher of men. In the present age, he does not fish all the fish of the sea at once, but only the crème de la crème, which God had prepared and given to him. The church is the fellowship of those that have been fished from the sea of the world, who are born again and devoted to the service of God that they may altogether cast the net of his word into the sea of men, and fish many to God.
Jesus fished Peter and his brother Andrew first, In his divine insight, Jesus saw in their hearts the fire of repentance and longing for purity, which was kindled by John the Baptist in his calling for turning to the Creator.
Both Peter and Andrew were unlearned men, but they were diligent fishermen with good experience in the perils of the sea. They were not philosophizers, but were prepared for hard handwork.
They had already known Christ, having heard the Baptist’s testimony about him that he was Christ, the Lamb of God, and they believed in him. Moreover, when their former teacher was put in prison, they immediately followed the Lord Jesus obeying his call for regeneration.
Probably Peter and Andrew went back, after their return from Jordan, to their nets, while Jesus worked in Galilee. Yet, when the Lord took Capernaum as his town, and lived at the seaside his call hit them as an arrow. They immediately followed him and left their boats and nets, i.e. their insurance, for the Lord is greater than all earthly insurance.
When the divine King demands us to come to him, all that we have to do is to obey and follow him, even if the unbelievers objected and the scornful scorned us. We have no right to think of money and subsistence, for the Lord provides us with our daily bread.
Christ wants to make you a fisher of men, not to win them through your cleverness, tricks, or money, but through your humility and kindness in the power of the Holy Spirit. The net of Christ’s servants is the word of God accompanied with their prayers and cast according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then Christ leads by his guidance many fish into the net of his love.
In following Christ, we learn that he, who fishes others, is not we, but the Lord in us, who is the worker who called you, purified you, and guided you to a successful service. Every man in nature is unworthy and unable to serve God. We are all unprofitable servants, but the Lord’s calling: “Come after Me, and I will make you become a fisher of men” qualifies you for the spiritual service, and there remains no boasting on our behalf, but all the glory is to the Lord who turns us into profitable servants. In following him, and holding fast to him, he teaches us wisdom, rightness, and holy conduct, as he said: “You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
In that same day, Christ met with John the evangelist and his brother James, and he blessed their family through calling both mighty men to the service of God. Their leaving of their profession, which was the only means of their living caused a considerable loss to them, but they, together with all the faithful ministers, recognized the rule: “We cannot serve God and Mammon”. Those who serve the Lord do not seek money, but they experience that God himself dwells in them through his Holy Spirit. This Spirit does not gather material as insurance for himself, but overcomes it, and distributes it for the sake of love.
John and James did not mend nets any further, but they joined the church of Christ into a holy unit with exceeding patience and orthodox circumspection. Ministry in church requires longsuffering and kindness and all the characteristics of the love of God, for the church is love; otherwise, it is not a church.
Did you hear the calling of Christ while he passes today in the midst of the Arab nation, calling those who are prepared, and training them for actual ministry? Will you answer his call immediately and follow Christ with final determination? Did you lead, by the guidance of his Spirit, any man to the Savior that he may save and sanctify him? What did you intend to do? Will you sleep relaxedly? Will you work to glorify yourself, or to serve the living Lord?