Day 18

Day Eighteen
Matthew 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, Simon and Peter, and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. Then He said to them "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from their, He saw two other brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called to them and immediately they left the boat, and their father and followed Him.
Here we see an amazing example of communicating to people in a language that they can understand as opposed to expecting people to understand our message as we present it. Jesus knows what kind of people are on the shore, fishermen. Therefore He speaks to them as fisherman not as future disciples. Imagine this, three guys are standing on the shore, you want them to be your disciples so you stroll up and tell them something like this; "hey I'm the Son of God and I'm going to do great things on earth so how about leaving your family, your money, your warm bed, and come hang out with me for a while then I'll be beaten and killed. Then come back in three days, give you instructions, and send you out to spread the Gospel and be persecuted and killed as well." You wouldn't be very successful at gathering disciples now would you? Of course we know that the Lord influenced their hearts and it was more than a statement that brought these guys along, but that isn't really Jesus point. His point was if you like fishing how about going fishing with Me we'll catch men? Do we communicate to people in a language that they can understand or do we communicate with people in the language we understand? Maybe this will help, do you know someone who talks all of the time and it appears that they just do it to hear themselves talk, do you listen? If so when you do I would suggest that it isn't long before you tune them out. I had a second uncle that was by far the most intelligent human I have ever met, he was off the charts on his IQ score and he knew something about everything, however he literally never stopped talking, I used to wonder how and when he breathed, he would move from one subject to another without a break and seemed to be more robotic than human. The little dirty trick was when a new friend was visiting we would introduce them to Wolford and walk away leaving them in the grasp of his well exercised vocal cords, sometimes for hours on end. However as I grew older I began to understand what a terrible waste his intense knowledge had become. If only he had learned to communicate, his knowledge would have benefited others greatly, his reputation would have been honored rather than joked about, he would have been sought after rather than avoided, and his contribution to this world would have lived on. However this was not the case, when he died much of his knowledge died with him. Will your life be wasted because of your pride, arrogance, low esteem and insecurity, or are you able to watch, and wait seeking the right method and words before speaking your piece?
Father help us to be people who draw others to us rather than people who others avoid, gives us ears to hear and eyes to see that we may affect the world around us for Your glory Lord. Amen.
"Knowledge is a fresh wind waiting to be blown often stopped by the untamed tongue"
Gene Burroughs Pastor