Pt. 2 - Right Bait
I. Introduction
Here fishy, fishy! Man, it is frustrating to know you are fishing in the right water, but still can't seem to catch any fish. The water is important like we talked about last week. However, there is another essential factor that determines whether or not you catch anything when you are fishing. We must make sure we are using the right bait!
I am reminded that when Jesus called his professional fishermen disciples to follow Him that He did so by saying this in Matthew 4:19 . . . “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I started thinking about that and realized that in this invitation He is also addressing the bait. He makes it clear that they will be the bait. They will be the ones catching the fish. People will be won or lost based on their ability to deliver the good news effectively.
I started thinking about that in relationship to the fishing industry today and the bait that is currently available. There are basically 3 categories of bait - live, artificial and stink. I love to use artificial bait and think there is some correlations between this kind of bait and our mission to fish for people for Jesus.
1. The right bait mimics or looks like the real thing.
Check this lure out. It looks like and acts like the real thing! When you think about it the thing that drew people's attention to the disciples was that they said they could tell they had been with Jesus. In fact, Paul came to this place where he could say follow me as I follow Christ. That means Paul was living his life so much like Jesus that if people followed him, they would get to HIM! If we are going to be effective, then the bait of our life must mimic or look like Jesus. Can anyone tell you have been with Him? Can people pattern their life, attitude, conversation after you and end up at Him? When the first church was established people in society began to call them "Christians". They called them this to demean them and belittle them. The word actually means "Little Christs." The believers began to wear this name as a badge of honor. I am so much like Jesus that I look like a little Jesus. I wonder how many of us who wear that badge are as much like Jesus as we could be? We will be more apt to catch someone for Jesus if we look more like Jesus! We must learn to re-present Him well if we want people to follow our lead.
2. The right bait is natural but different.
The best baits on the market look natural. The plastic worms actually look like real worms. The crank baits look like crawfish or minnows swimming through the water. The look very natural but they are different. What is different is the have a hook.
I am convinced that the most effective fishers of men are natural, but different. I think this is what Jesus meant when He said we are in the world but not of the world. We are natural - we aren't freaks, we aren't weirdos, we don't glow in the dark, we don't walk around in some stupor or trance, we don't talk in old English to make ourselves sound holy. However, we are different. We have a hook! Natural people that others want to be with and be around, but when they are around us, they discover that we are different. What is different about us? That is the question isn't it? What is different about you? I believe there is a long list of differences we could point out, but perhaps there are really 3 main ways to be different. The first difference is that Jesus said our love for each other would make it possible for people to recognize us as different. I challenge you to ask yourself this question . . . does my love for fellow believers and for mankind in general set me apart? Does the way I interact with people on social media, how I empathize with people in distress, how I react to cries for help, how I respond to someone who does me wrong . . . does any of that make me any different than the fish I am trying to catch. Am I just natural or am I natural and different? The second difference is power. When Jesus sent His disciples out to fish in Matthew 10 and Luke 10, He told them they would have authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease. In fact, in Luke 10, Scripture says that Jesus sent His disciples with this power into the towns He intended to go. In other words, the disciples, by exhibiting this power, would prepare the people for Jesus! If there was ever a time in our lives where we must walk in authority and power, then it is now. The people we interact with daily right now are sick with fear, panic, dread, uncertainty and stress. If we would walk in authority and heal their disease, then don't you think we would have a better chance to catch them for Jesus? We must be natural, but different. Our hook is that when they bump into us or talk to us, they find the “greater is He that is in us” power that speaks to their situation. Powerless believers are powerless to catch fish! The third difference is purpose. When Jesus called the disciples, they lived on purpose. Their task was clear. They knew what they were about. I wonder how many of us know our purpose? Are we distracted by life, things, stuff and the result is we miss opportunities that walk right past us? To catch the fish we have been assigned to catch, we must be different. We must live on purpose. We must know our calling! We are natural but different in that while others are still trying to find themselves and their purpose, we are very clear on why we are here! Let me remind you why you were caught. Jesus selected you for the sole purpose of catching other fish! All the other stuff . . . jobs, cars, sports, money, food are all secondary and should not be our focus. Like Jesus we should be able to say, "my food is to do my Father's will!" In other words, when I am fulfilling my purpose I am fulfilled. We must be clear on our purpose if we are going to be natural but different! So, are you supposed to be an electrician, a politician, a doctor, lawyer, handyman, nurse, salesman? Your occupation may contribute or accentuate your purpose, but your job isn't your real purpose. Your purpose and my purpose at its core is fishermen. Everything else is secondary.
3. The right bait is attractive.
The best bait is bright. Colorful. Attractive to fish. Just to be clear I am not talking about looks or beauty. Man am I thankful for that. The truth is Jesus would not have fit into the glamour magazine or Holywood crowd. Scripture tells us that there was nothing beautiful about Him and yet He attracted people. The word attractive means to arouse interest. If we are going to catch fish, then we must arouse the interest of those we are trying to catch. I believe that is what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 when he said, "Now, even though I am free from obligations to others, I joyfully make myself a servant to all in order to win as many converts as possible. I became Jewish to the Jewish people in order to win them to the Messiah. I became like one under the law to gain the people who were stuck under the law, even though I myself am not under the law. And to those who are without the Jewish laws, I became like them, as one without the Jewish laws, in order to win them, although I’m not outside the law of God but under the law of Christ. I became “weak” to the weak to win the weak. I have adapted to the culture of every place I’ve gone so that I could more easily win people to Christ. I’ve done all this so that I would become God’s partner for the sake of the gospel."
Notice he said he became all things to all men. Then he says he adapted to the culture. Mind you he doesn't say he adopted culture, but he did have this ability to adapt to the culture so that he would attract people to Jesus!
Are you attracting anyone to Jesus? Does your life pull people toward Jesus or does your life repel them from finding Jesus? We must live an attractive life that causes people to want WHO we have!
So, let me ask you one final question . . . are you catching anything? If not, then maybe it is time to check your bait! Remember you are the bait. You must mimic Him; you must be natural but different. You must be attractive! Surely you are not fishing with stink bait, are you? The disciples and early church show us in Acts 2:47 - enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved - that If we will use the right bait, then we will catch the right fish!
Prayer!
