There are many ways to fish. One may fish from a boat in a lake or river. Another fishes from a boat in the ocean. In some countries it gets cold enough that the rivers freeze and some "ice fish." Some use a rod and reel while fishing from the bank of the water. Then the others use nets for a large catch. These are a few of the ways that you can fish.

In the scriptures we see a fisherman who used nets. He had fished all night and caught nothing . Jesus asked to get in his boat and he agreed to it. He then rowed out from the shore a ways and Jesus began to teach crowds of people. When he finished he told him to "put out in to the deep" and let down your nets for a catch. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. But since Jesus asked him to do it, he agreed.

When he put the nets down, the catch was so big that the nets began to break. He called for his partners to come out and when both boats were full, they began to sink. When both boats were at land they began to follow Jesus (Luke 5). Jesus told them in Matthew 4:19, "And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" (NASB) Jesus is saying to them you will "catch men alive." As we read through the rest of the New Testament, we see Peter and the others doing just that. They preached to many and many were converted to the Lord.

Today, those same words are spoken to us. We, as God's church, are to be fishers of men, to catch men alive. We are to teach our friends and neighbors about Jesus. We are to teach them of his love, his mercy, his compassion, his justice and everything about him. We are to teach them about his wonderful plan of salvation. We are to teach them of the worship we are to offer to him.

The scriptures teach us to "go into the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). It does not say that they are to come to us. It does not say that everyone will listen. God just tells us to go. And when we go, good things will happen. Our purpose in going is to plant the seed (the Word of God, Luke 4). As we do this, God will give the increase.

Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." Are we busy doing our part in our community? If not, today is the day to begin. Do not delay any longer.