A New Net

Written and Illustrated by Rhonda Logan Bailey - Heartland Church - Fort Wayne, IN

During these confusing times, I have witnessed first hand and also heard many testimonies that the internet is being utilized by many to continue to speak the Gospel as well as to hear it.

With the internet, when church members cannot attend services, they can still receive the message by watching or listening online. Many are being exposed to the Word of God for the first time via the internet because of this worldwide virus. This led me to a bit of wordplay.

The fishermen whom Jesus recruited worked hard – physically casting their nets into the waters and retrieving them time after time, day after day, with or without the reward of fish. Then Jesus provided them with a miraculous catch in their nets and invited them to follow Him and become fishers of men. They left their physical nets behind and learned how to cast a metaphorical net. Now, we have another net that can be used. One that can be cast over the entire planet to share the message and “catch” people for God.

I hear an echo of fishermen terminology in our current vocabulary…

Net, casting, and online.

The same words, the same motives, but just a variation in methodology.

A new analogy.

A new net.

Read with me:  Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 4:18-22, John 21:1-19

Please pray with me:  Jesus, help us to be dedicated and successful fishers for You in our endeavors, no matter which net we are using.