Lessons while Fishing 14

Lesson 14 Fishing requires courage

If you’ve ever seen the movie The Perfect Storm or watched the TV series Deadliest Catch you are aware of how dangerous commercial fishing is. (My most dangerous catch is usually ice fishing--trying to keep my fingers and toes from freezing.) As a recreational fisherman I have to take my hat off to those men and women who travel hundreds of miles from land to make a living from the sea. In the days before the cod fish moratorium and before much of today’s safety gear and rescue techniques were developed Newfoundland had the highest number of widows per capita than any other part of Canada because of the many men lost at sea. It takes a lot of courage to be an off-shore fisherman.  

For most of us in Canada, living a Christian life is about as dangerous as recreational fishing. We have to have the interest and the patience and the persistence and the faith but it doesn’t take a lot of courage. The most opposition we face is verbal—someone disagrees with us or perhaps laughs at our beliefs. Our biggest fear is being ridiculed or rejected. In some countries Christians need a lot more courage. When they speak up for Jesus there is a real possibility they could be jailed or beaten or killed. Some Christians have lost their homes and property. Some have lost their families. Many Christians are tortured, even today, for their faith. Let us use the freedom of religion that we have and let us continue to support and pray for those Christians who face death for Jesus.

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.