an explannation of the title

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I follow Jesus the Christ. The Bible frequently refers to men doing, "what seemed right in their own eyes", my prayer is that I do what is right in HIS eyes... whether or not it "seems" right to me.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Casting and Mending... for the church?!?!


Mark 1:16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. (also found in Matthew 4:18-22)

Just some thoughts... 

Simon & Andrew were CASTING their net.
James & John were MENDING their nets.
They were doing these things because THEY WERE FISHERMEN!

I heard a sermon preached once during my high school days about the difference between casting and mending nets in the "fishers of men" context.  As a home schooler, I found myself with plenty of excuses not to cast my net.  What could I possibly catch in my little pond?!?!  Then, Hark!  Maybe I can get away with mending others' nets.  “Just make sure nobody falls through the gaping holes in our nets.” 

Ok, nice thought.  But, I wasn't off the hook, and I knew it.

Fast forward to this evening when I went over these verses again.  I'm still more inclined to minister to those within the church and leave the net casting to the evangelists.  So, I went in search of scripture that would substantiate this idea.  I came upon this, "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers" (Eph 4:11) of course, when I kept reading, “12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”.  So, “When I’m mending AND casting my own nets, I’m equipping the saints to do the same.”
 
Mmm… better thought!  And while we’re on the subject of hooks…
Don’t try to use bait and hooks.  Use nets.  It’s the right thing to do. :)

Just some further thoughts…
Do you find yourself more inclined to cast or mend?  Why?

3 comments:

  1. Indeed. But I will say that no amount of net mending can come close to the feeling you get when you share Christ with a hurting soul.

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  2. So true! It's like the old song... "you can't have one without the other."

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  3. one plants, another waters, another reaps. the body of christ has definitely been missing out on discipleship. it is important that we build others up in faith. i'm more naturally inclined to share my faith, and i appreciate those who build up young believers. i wish someone had poured into my life more...

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