Quite often I wear a bracelet that is very special to me. I would say it didn't cost me much, but that would not be the truth. Sure, this bracelet is made of simple fishing swivels that you can buy a for a few dollars at your local tackle shop. However, this bracelet was given to me by someone who reminded me of who I am in Jesus Christ. He told me when I put it on, "Jeff, I want you to know that you and I are FISHERS OF MEN." Truth be told, this bracelet actually comes with a great cost. Every time I look at it and put it on, I am reminded of Matthew 4:18-20... 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. With this bracelet I am reminded of the price Jesus paid for my life. Jesus gave up His life for me, dying on the cross for my sins, facing the wrath of God for my sin. I am also reminded of another passage found in Matthew 16:24-25... 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. With this bracelet I am reminded of the price I must pay to be Jesus' disciple. I must deny myself (sacrifice). I must take up the cross (humility and service). I must follow Him (obedience).
I am so thankful for the call of God on my life. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5, I am God's "ambassador" in this world. As Peter says in 1 Peter 2, I am God's "special possession." As John says in 1 John 3, I am "a child of God." When I humbly repent of my sin before Almighty God and surrender my heart to Jesus and call Him my Lord and Savior, I become a child of God, an ambassador of God, a special possession of God who is called to declare His praises and shine His light in a dark world. And I am not alone. There are many others who are also FISHERS OF MEN. We are a band of brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, and we go forth together as vessels of God's love, grace, and mercy. As Christ followers, we should never take this call lightly, and we should always remind one another of who we are in Jesus Christ...even with simple yet costly bracelets like mine. There is no greater call in this life than the call by Jesus to become FISHERS OF MEN!
