Jesus said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." That implies two important truths: First, people need to be "caught" for the Kingdom of God, and second, "fishing for people" is the job of every follower of Jesus Christ. And what better way to learn about sharing our faith than to observe some basic lessons about fishing?
Lesson one: Keep it simple. Years ago I went fishing with the oldest member of our church. I had an expensive rod and reel combo and a tackle box filled with well over $100 worth of lures, plastic worms and assorted fishing gear and accessories. Omar's "equipment": one 10-foot bamboo pole with about 6 feet of line that had been tied to the tip of the pole, a small hook and an old cork bobber. We arrived at our destination and began to fish. I would cast my selected lure and with precise movements (learned from watching fishing shows on TV), reel it in with jerks and tugs. Omar put a small worm on his hook. With no reel on his pole, he just flicked the line out and sat still. While I was casting and retrieving, he sat watching his bobber go down. With just one full movement - he flicked the line behind him - always with a fish on the end. This scenario was repeated again and again. I changed from lures to plastic worms to colored flies - nothing. Omar, with a simple bamboo pole and line, caught fish after fish.
We don't have to have elaborate strategies and a library of training manuals to share our faith. Just keep it simple. You need just two basic things. First, you need your own personal relationship with Jesus. After all, you can't share what you haven't experienced. There is a world of difference (and an eternity too) between knowing about Jesus and really knowing Jesus - personally, intimately, heart to heart in an authentic relationship.
Second, just be kind to people. Be nice. Be warm and friendly. Let people get in front of you in the checkout line. Hold the door open for others. Help somebody carry their packages. Bake a treat for your neighbor. Be a friend. More often than not, when people are shown genuine kindness and care, they want to know what makes you tick, and why you are different from everybody else. And when the opportunity arises, simply share how knowing Jesus changed your life and makes you who you are today.
Briefly share about that moment when you received Jesus, but don't stop there. People really want to know how your relationship with Jesus impacts your daily life in the here and now through life's struggles, hurts and problems. People want to hear what knowing Jesus means to you today. And, if he does that for you, can he, will he, do it for them?
Learn about catching people from catching fish. Keep it simple and leave the results to God.
