Devotion of the Day

Followers and Fishers

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19.

Here is a double-barreled combination, a command and a promise. A soul-winner is a creation of Christ, “I will make you fishers of men.” Soul-winning is a product of discipleship. Jesus takes the disciple and makes not a depository but a dispenser out of him and through him reaches others. Andrew went after Peter. Philip won Nathanael. Peter fished for Cornelius, and the evangelist Philip drew in the eunuch.

Fishing for souls proceeds from following the Saviour. It is not a pursuit all by itself, to be studied and practiced independently of all else. It is a consequence of obedience, and the Lord who never fails has given His Word guaranteeing the product.

We cannot do it alone. Remember the failure of the disciples in their fishing. “Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.” But when they fished at His bidding, the miracle happened. And Jesus said, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” It happened when Peter said, “At thy word, I will.” “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Quote of the Day

No decent married man dates another woman, and no true Christian “dates” this world. He is married to Christ (Romans 7:4), and if he loves the world he is God’s enemy (James 4:4). To flirt with the world is to fall in love with it and end up in spiritual adultery. Physical adultery often begins with a look, a casual conversation. Christians are lured away from the Lord gradually. The first flirtations seem so harmless that warnings are resented. Preachers are “pharisaical” and parents are “puritanical” if they seek to caution their flock or their children. Many a date with this world begins innocently, with rarely a protest, but one thing leads to another and soon it is too late. The best rule is, “Don’t make the first date!”

The daily devotions are from Pepper ‘n Salt by Vance Havner. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1966.