Friday, May 2, 2014 

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Rescue Mission

Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

One day Hudson Taylor was traveling on a Chinese junk (ship) from Shanghai to Ningpo. He had been witnessing to a man named Peter who rejected the Gospel but was under deep conviction. In the course of events, Peter fell overboard, but the crew made no efforts to save him.

Taylor sprang to the mast, let down the sail, and jumped overboard in hopes of finding Peter. Taylor saw a fishing boat nearby and yelled to them to help, but they wouldn't do it without money. Finally, after bartering for every penny that Taylor had, the fishermen stopped their fishing and began to look for Peter. In less than a minute of dragging their net, they found him, but sadly it was too late. They were too busy fishing to care about saving a drowning man. 

 Today's verse may sound odd... why would we fish for men? However, Jesus was using fishing as an example to illustrate to His disciples that we have to actively share the Gospel with mankind. When fishing, you cast a net. You make an effort.

So often, instead of taking action, we just pray for opportunities that we then neglect to achieve. Too often, we fail to actively cast our nets.

It's easy to condemn the men in this story who were too focused on their work to save a drowning man ... when in reality, we're often too consumed with life to reach those drowning in sin, hopelessness and despair.

I challenge you today to always be aware of your rescue mission. There are people drowning all around us. It may not be visible to the eye, but everyone fights battles that others may not be aware of. Make time to invest in people. It is the one thing in this life that brings about eternal change.

Dear Lord, Equip me to always do Your work and to seize every opportunity to reach those I encounter!

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.

Reflection: Am I making opportunities to share God's love?