Mark 1:17 – And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Dear Friends,

“Our Primary Pond”

                These words were part of Jesus’ call to His first disciples. Now if I’m connecting the dots rightly, they apply to all of His disciples in every generation and location until He returns (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, we who follow Jesus are “fishers of men” and “disciplemakers” and “missionaries” proclaiming the gospel of Christ and drawing in those He catches through our efforts.

It can be a misunderstanding among Christians that mission work is done primarily (or exclusively) by full-time “missionaries” usually in foreign lands. We support them with prayers and money, and that is how we are involved in “missions.”

A more biblical concept is that which I mentioned above, where every single member of the “body of Christ” (i.e. the “Church”) is a missionary sent to his/her absolutely unique “mission field.” God has placed each one specifically and strategically in a context where we can influence (as “salt” and “light”) a particular group of people in a way that no one else could or should.

If this idea is accurate, then we need to ask the question, “What exactly is MY mission field in which I am called to work?” Put another way, “What is the Primary Pond I am sent to fish in?” This can help us identify the people group (beginning closest to home with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, community members, and on and on . . .) that God wants to reach through us.

This mindset will insure that God’s design for building His Church and expanding His Kingdom will be fulfilled most effectively.

Are you a disciple of Jesus? If not, why not? If so, are you following Him and allowing Him to make you become a “fisher of men” in your “Primary Pond”?

For Christ’s sake and God’s glory,

Pastor Tim Sir