Know the Book to Know the Author

In the country I come from, fishing is not a hobby or pastime, it is a livelihood for most of the people, especially for those who live in the islands surrounded by water. They hate and are tired of being fishermen, they hate the smell of and having to eat fish almost all their live... but they have no choice. So they do it anyway to survive and pass it on to their children and so on.

As a believer and follower of Christ, God commanded us all to be 'fishers of men'. Do we have a choice? If we love and fear God we do not have a choice since it is commanded to us as in Matthew 28:19:

"Go ye therefore and teach all nations..."

God called ordinary people, like me, to fulfill His words. He does not need people with high education to carry this on—He wants you and me just as He chose Peter, Andrew, James and John. (1 Corinthians 1:27, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;) But how can we be fishers of men if we don't know how to fish? Will I get tired of doing it? It is the love of Christ for us sinners that nailed Him to the cross and it will be my love for my Saviour that will keep me fishing!

As a babe in Christ, I was not satisfied just going to church. I wanted more and more each day. I was and still am so hungry and thirsty for the truth and His word! Bible study has made me strong in faith, brought me peace and joy, revealed His plan and will for me and most of all revealed to me His promises. As I increase in wisdom (Proverbs 9:10, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.) the more desire I have to share it with someone and the more contentment and fulfillment I feel.

I was once a person who had a void and emptiness in my heart. I was looking for something... something good that would change my life and direction. I am glad I took the first step. I am glad there was someone to teach me a Bible study that opened me to the truth. It was a great blessing, more than a pot of gold to know my Jesus personally.

Ordinarily I am weak and an easy prey to temptation for we live in this world of temptations all around us. Jesus knows how hard it is so He told Peter in Luke 22:32, "... strengthen thy brethren." Now I understand God's command in Hebrews 10:24-25, "... consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Bible study does not only teach us the word of God but it makes the word of God alive in our actions and decisions. In Mark 12:29-31 God gave us His first and second greatest commandments, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." How can I follow these two commandments? The time and effort we give for Bible study will never be a loss or a waste but a gain to us for there is a promise waiting for those who put God first as a priority in their life schedules. Malachi 3:16-17 says, "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts..."

I'm now in the middle of the sea, fighting strong winds, the waves and the storms of life with my creator and Saviour beside me trying to catch some fish, even ordinary fish. Big or small it does not matter as long as it has the willingness to do the first step, just listen, Jesus has a message (Romans 10:17, ...faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.) Will you invite someone to come to Jesus? Will you give time for a home Bible study? Only Jesus can calm such great winds, waves and storms that knock us down. He alone can fill our hunger and thirst.

Jesus is "the Way, the Truth and the Life"
John 14:6

The Bible is our map to heaven and we need to move onward and upward. We need to take some energy and time to be pushed upward and closer to Him through a home Bible study.

"He that winneth souls is wise."
Proverbs 11:30