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Fishers of Men

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 11.

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Fishers of Men

By Edith M. Graham

“JESUS said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17. The original word which is translated fishers is one that means a fisherman by trade, one whose business it is to catch fish as a regular, daily occupation, not one who fishes occasionally as a sport or pastime. This gives special significance to the Lord’s words, for they say to us, If you will follow me, I will so change you that your chief burden will come to be the winning of other souls for me. If we do our part in the following, he will do his part in giving us that love for perishing souls that will lead us continually and persistently to do all we can to save them.
If, therefore, we have no desire or willingness to do anything to give the last warning message to those within our reach, it is evident we are not really following Christ. His promise is sure, and cannot fail. The only possible failure is in us. If we have not become what he says he will make us to become if we follow him, this is sure evidence that we are not following him.
It is true that there may be some who seem to be zealous in good works who are not followers of Christ. They do many things to help others, but they have not surrendered themselves nor forsaken sin. Their motive in this service is not love for Christ, and to them he says, “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:23.
While there may be workers who are not followers, there can be no followers who are not laborers together with God for the salvation of souls. Jesus himself has coupled together the following and the fishing for men, and they cannot be separated.
All will not fish in the same way. All fish are not caught by the same bait. Neither are all men and women won to Christ by the same method. Some are won by personal talk, more this way than any other. Many are won through letters, another effective method. Others are reached through literature, some through assistance given in time of need. Every follower of Christ will find some method by which he can fish for souls.
EDITH M. GRAHAM.