Fishing is a hobby that offers several benefits: outdoor relaxation, time with family, and a source of food. One study tracked a record number of 57.7 million Americans ages six and older who went fishing in 2023.*
Fishing is another hobby found in Scripture. Mark 1:16-20 records the story of Jesus calling two sets of fishermen brothers to be His disciples. He gave them the intriguing call to “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Their response was immediate obedience. That call echoes through the centuries to all His disciples.
Another parallel between fishing and discipleship is the high percentage of participants who begin early in life. The following data from the study referenced above is very interesting: “These numbers…underscore the critical importance of introducing fishing at a young age…Eighty-seven percent of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12…”* Most people who fish have early memories of doing so as a child with an older family member. The same is true in the spiritual realm. After research, George Barna found that “the probability of accepting Christ is highest among kids under 14.”** This is not to minimize older age salvations, just to highlight the importance of beginning discipleship at an early age. Just as fishing doesn’t just happen without someone being intentional, so it is with discipleship.
1. Choose any country, and pray for a family who lives there and is planning to go fishing this weekend to grow in their relationships with God and each other.
2. Pray for Christian parents and grandparents to be intentional about discipling the children in their families.
3. Pray for the Master Fisherman to bless the efforts of His churches around the world to be fishers of men.
2 Corinthians 2:14
*https://www.tackletradeworld.com/record-numbers-people-go-fishing-usa
**Accepting Christ at a Young Age https://share.google/eXpr0Y90oqpGjLRYa
