The only fishing I care to do is for men. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). I may not have much skill, but I do apply myself to the task. If you share that interest, I hope to encourage you today. I wonder if one of the best fishing holes is often overlooked. 

Almost every Sunday, we have some visitors at church (no doubt churches vary greatly). Most will be saved, but some might not be. Consider that for most people it takes a bit of courage to walk into a new place where they don’t know others. “What will the service be like?” “What will the people there be like?” “Will I fit it?” Many more… 

Talk about fish jumping into the boat! Here is an opportunity to show believers and unbelievers the love of Christ and make them feel valued and welcome. Our motives are very important. We love them because Jesus loves them, not to fill pews. We want to minister to hearts similar to how Jesus was with the Samaritan woman at the well. Not just, “Welcome, hope you will come back.”

The challenge for most in the church toward visitors might be thoughts like this. “I don’t know them.” “What will I say?” The worst and most likely excuse is, “I’d rather talk to my friends.” Instead, seek them out before and after church and talk to them. Some pastors encourage people to be prepared to invite visitors out to lunch.

The visitors may never darken the door of another church again. May we love them because Christ first loved us. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). 

Side note: a Brother in Christ recently asked me what the best resource was for learning how to share Christ with others. I thought you all would have some good recommendations for me. ???

I’m guessing most professing Christians have thought about the downward spiral of the U.S. Ten years ago I would not have imagined the current status. I was saddened then, and deeply grieved now. The natural tendency is to look for who to blame. Only the Lord knows, but there may be some benefit in considering whether we might be culpable in some way. 

First, is there anything that might have the power to change the course of over 300 million people? Oh, my Brothers, yes indeed. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

There is power in the blood of the Lamb, and it changed a wretch like me. The saving power of the blood of Jesus is what is needed. Do we have our hand to the plow or the remote control or a movie channel? 

Are you aggressive in meeting people with the goal of sharing Christ with them?

Are our actions consistent with what we believe? Peter said he would die with Jesus. There appeared to be no doubt in his mind that he was committed to following Christ (Matthew 26:33). Yet a brief while later, he denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:70-75). 

You tell your wife you love her, but do you live it (Ephesians 5:25, 28)? That greatly affects whether she believes you or not. 

Do you believe God answers prayer? If so, do you pray? What do you pray for? Your best life now, or God’s will be done? We have the assurance that if we pray consistent with His will, He will answer.  

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Oh my brothers, we must pray, pray, and then pray more.