Are there any other fishermen out there? Fish have a very elusive nature about them. They are standoffish and they are reclusive. They hide under logs or behind rocks. When the sun is shining on their little area of the pond or stream; they will be found nestled behind or under the shadow of their favorite hiding objects. They know how to blend into their environment and they know exactly when to spring from behind it to nab their prey. They seem to fly through the water, rather than actually swim through it. If you don’t believe me, try to catch one the next time you see one anywhere near you in the water. You will find yourself reaching into an empty spot.
The way to catch a fish is to attract it to your hook. To accomplish this, you have to have the correct bait. I like to Fly Fish. Fly Fishing is all about finding the right fly, for the right type of fish at the right time of year. It will match what the fish is expecting to see in his little stream. It will be recognizable to him as food.
In the garden of Eden, we see that Adam and Eve didn’t even realize that the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was good for food, until after the serpent revealed that little tidbit to them: Genesis 3:6 – So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
This is a formula that works well for helping others begin to see the true nature of God. If we only tell them what we think they need to know, like; “If you keep it up you’re going to wind up in a lake of fire.”, we’re probably not giving them any bait that they’re going to want to go for. We can conclude also that we’re not giving them something that they are going to feel familiar enough with to be able to recognize as food. Remember when God brought the Manna to the people in the wilderness? They were only sure that it was food because God had told Moses, who told the people that it was food. Once they heard this, they were willing to collect it and eat it. What if they had not found out that it was food from God? They could have sat right down on their food and never have gotten fed.
The best way to catch a fish is to help them see that what you’re offering them is food. I’m not saying that you should be deceptive; I’m just suggesting that you give them real food instead of something else. The real food is the truth about God, which when revealed is His truth, goodness, kindness, mercy, grace and love. When these fish get hooked they are not filleted, they are fed. They enter into the true feeding pond of the fellowship of the brethren of the faith of Jesus Christ.
Maybe it’s time to change bait and attract a few of those reclusive fish that are hiding in the shadows. Let’s help them into the light, not by criticisms of their faults, but rather by showing them a better way; offering them food.
Blessings!

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