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Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men." Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:16-18 WEB.

When I was young, I spent a lot of time navigating the waters near my home in South Carolina. The black water of the Waccamaw River was just a few miles away. Hunting and fishing are a big part of growing up in the country, at least when I came up.

I learned that bait selection is imperative, crickets for bream, night crawlers for catfish, minnows, or lures for bass. A good fisherman always went prepared and had a well-stocked tackle box with him. Also, you use different tactics according to the quarry you are after.

When fishing, you try and entice a fish to take the bait. You put something in front of them that looks appealing, a lure they would want to eat. If you use the wrong bait, you'll be ignored, but the fish will pounce on the right one. You have to be patient, for you'll drive the fish away if you make too much noise or bump the bottom of the boat with a paddle.

Hunting is almost the opposite. You pursue your prey, often with the help of barking dogs and other hunters, depending on the quarry. The target does not willingly submit either. It is being chased or ambushed. Their only desire is to get as far away from you as possible as quickly as they can.

God knows the difference between hunting and fishing as well, and there are different seasons for each. In Jeremiah, He gave Israel a chance to come willingly by having fishers "lure" them. Afterward, He sent in the hunters to force them to come. The Lord told Jeremiah:

"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says Yahweh, "and they will fish them up. Afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain, from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks" (Jeremiah 16:16).

Jesus said that He would make us "fishers of men," not their hunters. We are to make Jesus look good and appealing, someone people would want to know. If they aren't interested in your bait, then move on. Don't pursue them like a hunter, as you'll just drive them away. No means no.

The prodigal son's Father didn't chase him down the road yelling at him but instead waited for his return after he came to his senses (Luke 15:17). Jesus told us that He didn't come to destroy men's lives but to save them (Luke 9:56). So make Jesus look good, and don't be offensive and scary when you share your faith with others.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your grace, tact, and wisdom. Please help me know what to say at the right time and keep me from driving people away from You. Help me find a balance in my life. Please walk with me and talk with me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.