As a young boy I would frequently go fishing with my grandparents and my cousin, Peggy, in Cibolo Creek not too far from their Texas Hill Country farm.
We would always bring back a variety of fish that were our main course for dinner.
When I turned 8 or possibly 9, I was entrusted with helping with the messy part of fishing. Those cute fish needed to be cleaned and scaled or skinned, and then refrigerated.
That might be why I later became an unofficial advocate of catch and release.
I also graduated from cane poles to much more sophisticated fishing gear. Favoring fly fishing and making my own lures became part of the sport.
Mom was not the least interested in cleaning my catch. So, I released many edible fish back into Geronimo Creek as a young teenager.
Yes, the whole fishing experience can be quite messy.
Let’s turn to Scripture to learn a bit about the messy side of being fishers of men.
In Matthew 4:18-20 we read, “As Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, since they were fishermen. ‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Now I suspect Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, had no idea what it meant to be fishers of men.
Nor did those two sons of Zebedee, James and John, who were preparing their nets nearby. They, too, left their father and his hired hands to follow Jesus.
These were not well-educated men, but they were chosen by God that day and their lives would be transformed forever.
These four disciples along with eight others would journey through the kingdom with Jesus for the next three-plus years.
They were firsthand witnesses to Jesus’ many miracles anticipating their Master would soon overthrow the Roman government. Of course, that was never his purpose.
All 12 of Jesus’ disciples became fishers of men. And 11 would later meet with him for a period of 40 days after his resurrection.
And they faithfully carried out The Great Commission (found in Matthew 28:18-20) into the world.
Now let me share what being a fisher of men looks like to this follower of Christ.
God on certain occasions has placed an unconvinced man in my midst. Some are minimally versed in Scripture but seeking someone to help them to grow in their faith journey. Hopefully, they will be used by the Holy Spirit downstream to share the Good News of Christ with others.
What can become messy is the intimacy shared with a fellow believer as the two search Scripture for answers and encouragement as both draw nearer to God.
Perhaps messy, but God is pleased by the process.