Noah set a large piece of posterboard on the table in front of him and picked up a purple marker. He opened his Bible and began to copy a verse onto the posterboard in big letters: "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."
Mom came over with a cup of hot chocolate. "Here, Noah," she said. "I thought you might like this to warm you up a bit. It must have been chilly on your walk home from school."
"Thanks, Mom!" said Noah as he took the mug.
"What are you working on?" asked Mom.
"It's for Bible club tomorrow," Noah replied. "Our teacher is having us take turns helping with the lesson. I'm writing out the memory verse, and other kids are leading song time and doing skits. I can't wait!"
"That sounds fun!" said Mom. She looked down at the posterboard. "Do you know what that verse means?"
"Sure," Noah answered. "Everybody knows what it means to go fishing, but Jesus helps Christians go fishing for people. He wants us to help others know Him as their Savior too."
"Right," said Mom.
As Noah sipped the hot chocolate, he thought about fishing--especially fishing for people--and all that it involved. Suddenly he jumped up. "Mom, can I run over to Jenson's house?" His mom agreed, so Noah ran down the street.
"Hi, Jenson," said Noah when he reached his friend's house. "Want to go to Bible club with me?"
"Bible club?" asked Jenson. "What's that?"
"It's something I go to every Wednesday at my church," answered Noah. "We play games, sing songs, and learn things from the Bible. Tomorrow I'm even going to help teach the lesson! Wanna come?"
Jenson shrugged. "Okay."
"Great!" said Noah. "Hey, let's go and ask Elias if he wants to go too!" They did, and Elias decided to join them.
As Noah was getting ready for bed that night, he told his mom about his "fishing trip" that afternoon.
"Well, I see you really do know the meaning of that verse you were writing," Mom said with a smile. "I hope you'll fish for Jesus as long as you live."
-Charles VanderMeer
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you go fishing for people? Lots of kids get excited about fishing for fish. Get excited about fishing for people too! You can do that by inviting your friends to church and telling them about Jesus. And let them see Him in your life in the kind, loving way you treat others. Jesus gives you everything you need for your fishing trip. Encourage others to come to Him too.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (NIV)