Focus on the Water and the Fish, Not on the Tackle

I am blessed with many good friends who are both wise in the wisdom which comes from God and passionate for the cause of leading people in new life with Jesus.  One of those is my friend Jim; a great outdoorsman, theologian, ambassador for Jesus, and humble servant of the crucified and risen one.  Jim has a remarkable way of making things crystal clear, while unapologeticly Jesus-centered.  Recently he shared with me this:  "You like to fish...We have never caught a fish by watching our rod, reel, lure or arm, have we?  It's only by watching our target that we can pitch a worm in the brush where a fish is at.  If our eye is off the target we get hung up, have backlashes, and don't catch that bass.  That's just like following Jesus.". Sometimes we confuse the tools we use with the purpose for which the tools exist.  In my line of work,  the aim is not just to build up and maintain a church.  The aim is to strengthen a church for the purpose of joining with Jesus in the cause of changing lives and transforming the world.  Focusing on ourselves is like watching the rod and reel, instead of watching the water to see where it is directing us to the likeliest habitat for the fish.

By the grace of God alone I am involved in a church full of people who get this, Jim being amongst those of great God-given vision.  We all pray we continue to grow and improve in our focus on the target and not our own power alone.

I'll see you around the next bend in the river.