Let's Go Fishin'

What is the most important question fishermen ask each other? "What are you using for bait?" Everyone has a different response. Some swear by worms, plastic lures, live bait, even doughballs! Fisherman are passionate about their bait and they will keep trying until they find what works best for them. Also, they need to adjust their bait depending on what they want to catch. Certain fish are attracted to certain bait.

So, what are you using for bait? What is it you decide to cast out into that ocean of singles in order to hook a good one? What are you fishing with and what kind of fish do you hope to catch?

Our society tells us plenty of ways to catch a mate. We should have the "right" size body, perfect hair, nice clothes, makeup, and jewelry. We should also have the same attitude that most people do - whatever makes you happy and feel good is right. If it's okay with the people involved then it's a good thing to do. Right?

But what does the bible say about how to fish? What should we, as Christians, use for bait? There's a lot of fish in the sea. How do you attract just the right one?

For starters, I haven't found many bible verses about wearing the right clothes and having the perfect hair. Actually it says we should focus on something very different. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT) says: "Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." Notice this verse doesn't say to do what is precious for men, it says to do what is precious to God. And what is precious to God? A gentle and quiet spirit. Do you have one of those? Is that what you're casting into the ocean of men? It should be. Why would God, who loves His sons as much as He loves His daughters subject any of them to a woman whose only concern is her outward beauty? As a loving Father, He desires to give His dearly loved sons to women with gentle and quiet spirits. Can you blame Him for not giving His son to you? What is the state of your spirit? If it's not gentle and quiet then maybe you have some work to do before God will allow you to hook one of His best fish.

I know I have to continually check my spirit. But the more I desire to change and make steps to become obedient to Him, the closer I am to catching the right fish. Just like Peter when he obeyed the Lord after an exhausting and unproductive night of fishing. "He [Jesus] got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon [Peter], and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break." Luke 5:3-6(NLT)

What was Peter's newly preferred choice of bait? Just Jesus.