Marketplace ministry for fishermen
“Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:24
Jesus finds His disciples in the marketplace. In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus transformed Peter from a fisherman to fishers of men. Jesus firstly borrowed Peter's boat so He could preach on it to the multitude, and after His teaching, Jesus instructed Peter to cast his net into the deep sea to catch fish. Peter resisted at first as his team toiled all night without catching anything, yet he obeyed Jesus, so he caught a great number of fish. Then, Jesus told Peter to become a fisher of men, and Peter and 3 other fishermen followed Jesus.
In this story, Jesus uses all professions, including fisherman, who society regarded as blue collar workers. Fishermen required hard work and skills, as they work like hunters to catch fish in the deep water, so they could spread the gospel as if they could cast their nets into the deep sea. Despite not being fishermen, God has given us nets, places of influence, and skills to spread the gospel to be fishers of men.
Jesus could use anything Peter had from his work. He used his boat to preach, just as he can use our office meeting room to host a prayer meeting. God can use whatever resources we have at work for His purposes, as long as we are willing to let Him use them.
Jesus' blessing is a powerful witness. With his own strength, Peter did not catch anything; however, after following Jesus' instructions, he caught abundant provisions and recognized Jesus as Lord. Three of his fellow fishermen followed Jesus after witnessing the miracle. When we invite Jesus into our work, we no longer work for toil, and He provides for us as well as gives us testimonies to share with others.
Jesus does not change who we are in the marketplace. Peter was told by God he would be fishers of men, which means he still could work like a fisherman but with a new purpose. In some ways, it's like we are His disciples or missionaries disguised as entrepreneurs, bakers, nurses, etc..Let's invite Jesus into our work so He can empower and upgrade us for His purpose.
Blessing prayer: Jesus, you are Lord of all, and we honor our work by putting you first, give us your net and instructions so that we may become fishers of men. in Jesus' name, Amen.
