From fishermen to fishers of men

“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. ‘Come, follow Me.’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” Matthew 4:18-19
This is probably a well-known account to many of us: Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to follow Him. But there’s something in it for us, too. You see, Jesus called these two fishermen, and said He would make them ‘fishers of men’.
As fishermen, they had developed many skills. They knew where to look for the fish, depending on the time of day and the kind of weather. They knew what type of bait to use to attract each type of fish. They had developed the strength to pull in a full net, the ability to sail a boat, the craftsmanship required to make and mend nets.
Jesus would use all these skills that they already had, to make them effective for the kingdom of God. As fishers of men, they would get to know how to present the gospel to different kinds of people. They would know where to go to find the lost souls who needed to hear the message of salvation. And He does the same with us. Are you good at organising and administrating? Are you good at public speaking? Are you generous, with your money or your time? Are you able to problem-solve? God can use all of that for His kingdom.
God will use whatever skills you have. He didn’t take these fishermen and say, ‘I’ll make you into heavenly accountants and scribes’. No, He used Matthew – who had been a tax-collector - for that. And God won’t call you to do anything that He hasn’t given you the skill and the desire to do.