Fishers of Men: Skilled and Cooperative
We’re going to wrap up our Fishers of Men series on the blog today with two final characteristics. If you’ve missed any of them, make sure you go back and catch up! Start here.
Fishermen – and I would argue – fishers of men – must be skilled and able to cooperate with others.
To be skilled is having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in the application of it (Websters 1828).
Ever have to define a word within a definition? 🙂
Dexterity is a readiness in performing an action, which proceeds from experience or practice
If we are skilled in an area, we must know how to do it and be physically able to do it–which is the result of experience and practice.
So in our Christian life and in being a witness, what do we need to be skilled in?
We need to be skilled in the Word of God. Consider that as we live out our Christian life here on this earth, we will face spiritual battles. We must put on the Armour of God, found in Ephesians 6:10-18 (give this passage a study when you have time–or pick up a copy of Arise, Go. and I’ll walk you through it ;-)).
Our offensive weapon is God’s Word.
II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
II Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Joshua 1:7-8
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
We must be skilled with the Word of God. We must meditate on It, observe to do It (obey it), not turn from It (even a little bit and we will veer off course). Then our way will be prosperous and we will have good success – success with God, in our walk with Him.
Now let’s talk about that other character trait…the ability to cooperate with others.
Cooperate means to act or operate jointly with another or others, to the same end; to work or labor with mutual efforts to promote the same object.
Christians are to work together for the cause of Christ. We cooperate with one another in our local churches. The church is the vehicle God uses to spread the Gospel, and as believers we should all be involved in a local, Bible believing church. Not only for the church’s work in evangelism, but also for edification–ours and our fellow believers.
In Ephesians 4, Paul discusses the unity that should exist within the church and the various gifts, talents, and roles each member might have. It is all of these people–working cooperatively together–that allows the church to function as it should and accomplish its purpose.
Now let’s consider those character traits–to be skilled and cooperative–as we turn our attention back to John 21. It is here that we will find what should be our motivation for developing these character traits in our lives and living for the LORD in general.
Notice Jesus asks Peter…
“Lovest thou me more than these?”
“Lovest thou me?”
“Lovest thou me?”
Three times. Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him.
Peter’s answer each time… “Thou knowest that I love thee.”
True love prompts action (service).
Our love for the LORD should be our motivation in serving Him. Our love should be the motivation for becoming skilled with His Word. We don’t read and study the Bible just to gain knowledge, we do it to KNOW a person–our Lord and Savior. Our love for the LORD will cause us to love others. It will give us a burden for the lost and the desire to edify and encourage fellow believers.
If our motivation to serve the LORD is for any other reason…
~Pleasing others
~Pleasing the pastor and pastor’s wife
~Avoiding conflict with others
~Feeling obligated
~Even fear that God will somehow punish us
Any other motivation – besides love – is the wrong one.
I imagine as Peter talked with Jesus, He was thinking about all Jesus had suffered on the cross–for him and for us. He was thinking about how he denied knowing Christ. He was thinking about the mercy, love, and forgiveness Jesus showed even at the moment–seeking Him out and being willing to restore him into a right relationship with the LORD.
As he considered all those things, his love for the LORD grew…and he was more than willing to serve. His love prompted him to want to live for the LORD and tell everyone about it – we see in the book of Acts that Peter became a bold witness for Christ.
Do we truly love the LORD?
Jesus said it was the greatest commandment…
Matthew 22:37-39
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
When we love Him, we will love others. Our love for others will turn us into fishers of men…in word and in the way we live.
Thanks for following along with the “Fishers of Men” series. I pray it challenged and encouraged you as it did me.
Crystal Ratcliff
My passion is to encourage and challenge Christian women to
develop a personal relationship with their Lord and Savior.
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