City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:19

⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49

Reflection

Growing up I learned about Jesus calling His disciples and telling them that they would be fishers of men.  But years later I learned the term “fissure,” which is a split or a fracture.  It is often used when describing volcanoes or even wounds.  “Then a fissure in the Earth’s crust opened and out came a flow of molten lava.”  Ever since then, whenever I come across Matthew 4:19, I think “fissures of men” and what that could possibly mean.

It could be the splitting apart of people groups; “This is the unfortunate case of a fissure forming in a once united people.” Or it could be the splitting apart of a person; “After carelessly cracking his head on the door frame, a fissure formed in his skull.”  Or even perhaps the splitting apart that a person does to something; “after hours of swinging the hammer a fissure finally formed in the rock.”  But notice how it seems that the fissure is the result of some action that divides, and once that action is done the fissure remains.  As a result of the fall of man, a fissure formed separating man from God.  Christ came so that the fissure could be healed, and He called his disciples to join in the work.  That is our call and that is our mission.  As Jesus had to be in His father’s house, so too should we be in desiring to be about the work of the Lord.

Francis Anfuso once gave a teaching on witnessing to people about Jesus and the salvation He brings.  He said that often people think of being a fisher of men as if it were fishing with nets.  They think of building a big church, getting a bunch of people into it, and then getting them saved.  While that is a valid method, and does happen, most of the fishing that God will call us to do is more like line fishing.  So, you should be thinking of catching one fish at a time.  But how will a single line heal the fissure between man and God?  Well, if you have enough lines going, the wound can be stitched, sown shut, and healed.

Application

There are many reasons we do not share our faith.  We look to ourselves.  We fear being rejected.  We do not know where to start.  But we can not let these reasons stop us from doing what the Lord has placed before us.  Be encouraged.  If the Lord has given you a task, He has also given you a way to complete it.  And He will never leave you to complete it on your own.  Start with prayer.  Ask the Lord to lead you into the “line fishing” He would have for you.  And then simply obey.  Remember that it is the Lord that brings the increase.  It is simply for you to obey.

It is the love of the Lord that allows me to abandon my previous riches for a better reward.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I love You and thank You for your grace and mercy.  I pray for Your favor with those that I meet, and I pray that You lead me to those You would have me witness to.  Give me the peace and grace to share Your love with the lost and those who are seeking You.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.