Issue 750 – A Fish Story – May 20, 2022
It might sound like a contradiction, but I want to share a true fish story with you.
When I was about thirteen or fourteen years old, we lived in a community in Northern Alberta called Fort McMurray. It’s pretty much a small city today, but in those days, it was at the end of 125 miles of gravel road (with no services along the way). There was no television or radio. The newspaper came in a day late by Greyhound bus.
Founded back in the 1870s as a fur trapping post, McMurray sits at the junction of several rivers. There was always lots of good fishing. I suspect it has changed over the years, but back then, you could walk to any of the rivers and catch various fish with relative ease.
One summer day, I grabbed my pole and tackle box and walked the mile and a half or so to one of the rivers. I went by myself, so it seemed a grand adventure. I rigged my line with my favourite red/white spoon and cast it out to a spot by a bridge piling.
First cast. Nothing.
Second cast. Nothing.
Third cast. Bang! As soon as the spoon hit the water, something hit it hard, and a long fight was on. In the end, I landed the largest walleye I had ever seen. I was so excited that I packed up my tackle, grabbed my fish and headed home.
In retrospect, the fish probably weighed about ten pounds, but it seemed huge to me back then. Carrying the fish by the gills, the tail dragged along on the ground. I was thrilled during the walk home as people drove by, honked their horns and yelled, “nice fish.” The fish was so big that I just had to go home and show it off.
In my excitement, I forgot that walleye (or pickerel as we called them then) travel in schools of similar sized fish. The one I was so proud to drag home was most likely one of many fish that were equally likely to be caught. I probably could have limited out in very short order.
A similar thing happens to many Christians. They realize that they need to know Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. They’re so excited when they believe that they don’t stop to find out there is so much more. Many Christians live powerless lives or empty lives of just coming and sitting in the pew on Sunday mornings, missing out on much of what Jesus had planned for them.
Accepting Jesus by faith brings about forgiveness of sins, but it is only the first step in a beautiful journey through this life and into eternity. We’re called to grow in that relationship, deepen our knowledge of who Jesus is and live lives of service.
We’re called to ministry and gifted by God to fulfil that call.
I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:1-16
Have you become content merely to have your salvation? If so, you are missing out on so much more. Our faith walk is not designed to be a passive spectator sport. It is a call to action.
We are ALL called to a deeper, more fulfilling life with Jesus and service in His name.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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#fishing #walleye #Pickerel