What do you want to be when you grow up? At some point in your childhood you were probably asked this question. I want to be a pilot, a fireman, or a policeman were some of the most common answers for the boys. For the girls some of the most common answers were: I want to be a princess, a teacher or a nurse.

When Jesus showed up into our world and invited the first group of men to follow him he said to them, follow me and I will make you something that you are not. I will make you __________________. Go ahead fill in the blank.

Mark 1:16-18 NIV

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Unless you already knew the answer you probably would have never filled in the blank with, Fisher of men. Had I not known the answer I would have probably answered I will make you healthy, prosperous, a good person, maybe even holy, but fisher of men would have never crossed my mind.

When you and I became aware of Jesus and gave Him our lives we did so with a reason in mind. Some because of an inner void, others because of illness or tragedy, others because of perceived benefits, while others simply because they wanted to go to heaven. But I never heard of anyone giving their life to Jesus because they wanted to become a fisher of men. The first followers also gave their lives to Jesus for their own personal reasons but later on discovered what most followers of Jesus have yet discovered … if you follow Jesus you will become something that you are not, you will become a fisher of men.

It’s simple, follow Jesus and eventually He will make you a fisher of men.

Heavenly Father, I surrender to you who I am and who I want to be. I surrender to you the good and bad, what I have and what I lack. If you are able to use my unique combination of experience, highs and lows, then use them for the benefit of those who have not yet known you as Lord and Savior. Make me a fisher of men.