“I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men. I will make you fishers of men…if you follow me.” Do you remember the song? For me, it dates back to sometime probably during the ’60’s, when I sang it at Briarwood United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. I doubt I knew what it meant back then, but I do now. Peter had been fishing all night to no avail, but then Jesus got into his boat, and Peter’s “luck” changed. It changed so much that Simon Peter knew it wasn’t luck, and he was suddenly and extraordinarily fearful of the Nazarene Carpenter. So Jesus said,

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Luke 5:10 (ESV)

From fish…to men. This is what Jesus does when He comes into someone’s life – He changes the trajectory of a life.

• Previously the college guy was chasing women; now he is pursuing the Lord.
• Previously the starlet was focused on her own beauty; now she is focused on His beauty.
• Previously the CEO was serving mammon; now He is serving God.
• Previously Peter had been catching fish; now he would be catching men.

Jesus doesn’t get into a boat except that He redirects it. Fishermen don’t necessarily stop going out to sea, and accountants don’t immediately put away their debits and credits; but Jesus’ fishermen do make time to throw their nets into another kind of sea, and Christ’s accountants begin to tally up who is on the Lord’s side.

It’s who Jesus makes them to be…when they follow Him.

For tomorrow, July 8th: Luke 6