“Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the Lord, “and they shall fish for them; and afterward I will send many hunters, and they shall hunt then from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. Jeremiah 16:16
Going fishing or hunting is a very common pastime for many people. Many find it enjoying and relaxing while they are our hunting or fishing. Others love the challenge or thrill of catching something. Along with the relaxation and challenge, they also can enjoy the benefits of some food being provided for.
Jeremiah quotes God in saying that He will send out for many fishermen and hunters to fish and hunt for the scattered children of Israel and bring them back to their land.
Two times God has brought the people of Israel back to their land. He first brought them back after captivity during the time of Jeremiah. Then again in 1948, when they became their own nation again, not under the power or control of anyone else.
God has created every man and woman, so each one is His child, though all have sinned and walked away from Him. They have gone into captivity of sin. As a result, they need to be found and brought back to their real home.
Right before Jesus left the earth, He told Peter that He would be a fisher of men. That calling has been passed on to all believers.
Every believer needs to be a fisherman or a hunter. They need to go out and find people to bring into God’s family again. It takes seeking who will be open to hearing the gospel message. It takes using the right bait, the right words of God, to tell them the truth that they need to hear and will listen too. God wants to bring them in.
You may not be a hunter or fisherman for animals and fish. That may be something you even hate to do. However, as a believer, God has called you to be His witness. You have to be willing to hunt out those who need to hear the saving gospel message of Jesus. You also need to be willing to cast the bait and line to draw them in to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
Be the hunter or fisherman that God needs you to be. Someone needs Jesus today.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will show you how to be His hunter or fisherman; that God will give you the ability to catch people for Him; and that God will use you to build His kingdom each day.
Picture by Leonard Cotte on Unsplash
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