What are you a fisher of?

While watching The Chosen last night, the episode was highlighting the calling of Peter and the miraculous catch of fish.  As we were watching it the boys were smiling ear to ear.  The wonder that filled their faces radiated into the room.  I took some pictures to build an altar of remembrance (I love doing that as many of you know), and as I was snapping some photos, the scene turned to the place where Jesus said to Peter...

"From now on you will fish for men."

I heard it differently for some reason.  Jesus told Peter to think of what he was good at and then apply the same principles to loving people.  Reaching people.  Saving people. 

I thought about the people in our church and what it would look like for them to take their career and turn it into a calling.  To wonder about the gifts they have and how they could begin using those same abilities for kingdom-advancement, to bring God glory.

Luke was a Doctor and you can see in his New Testament writing that he is more tuned into the body and disease and healing.  It's how he looks at life and how God created him to care for humanity.  God said to Luke, be a doctor of people's hearts.

If you're a nurse, how can you nurse people's injured souls?

If you're a contractor, how can you build the kingdom?

If you're a teacher, how can you inspire people's hearts with your style?

If you're a salesman, how can you share the gospel in a way that is appealing?

If you're an entrepreneur, how can you create new environments for God to move?

If you're an artist, how can you paint in such a way as to bring color to God's Word?

If you're a welder, how can you weld people together in unity and community?

If you're a mother, how can you give tender care to the hearts of humanity?

If you're a musician, how can you offer your ability to move people's spirits?

If you're a farmer, how can you plant seed in and tend people's souls?

If you're an engineer, how can you conceptualize the building of Jesus' church?

If you're a manger, how can you oversee and organize kingdom projects?

If you're a coach, how can you build a team of disciples into a force for good?

Jesus simply looks at Peter and says, "You know how to fish for fish, now take that mentality and leverage it for kingdom purposes."  He's not asking us to be someone we're not, he wants to take our bent, our nature, our personality, our proficiencies, and harness them for the glory of God and the salvation of humanity.

What would Jesus say to you?  How would you invert what you do and turn it into an opportunity to offer your gift to the church and the world.

This is all he's asking of you.

He wants you to hear his ask and say, "I think I can do that."

He thinks you can, too.