Good Fish, Bad Fish

Read: Matthew 13:47-50

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. Matthew 13:47

IN WORD

A dragnet pulls up everything. It can be a great way to get what the fisherman is looking for, but it gets a lot more too. When the catch is pulled in, the process isn’t over. Everything has to be sorted out. The good fish are kept, the bad are thrown out.

It’s hard to imagine Jesus calling human beings “good” or “bad,” but not everyone becomes fit for the Kingdom. He draws us toward Him and enables us to accept His truth. When we do, He transforms us, shaping us for the Kingdom life. But there are others in the net who don’t accept Him and don’t allow Him to shape them for His realm. He has told us He will make distinctions when He returns. In the meantime, He charges us with making the nets full.

What does that mean? Spreading the Kingdom message far and wide, for one thing. We aren’t to make the distinctions He will one day make. But the message is more than an invitation to salvation; it’s an expression of Kingdom ways. We are never to withhold the goodness of the King.

IN DEED

Offer Kingdom blessings to everyone, even if they aren’t in the Kingdom, even if they are hostile to it, even if they will benefit without giving anything in return. God sends rain on the just and the unjust; He gives common graces that every human being can enjoy, even those who reject Him. He does not show favoritism with His generosity. He offers it to everyone.

In spite of His universal generosity, not everyone is drawn to Him. That’s not our responsibility. While many Christians tend to offer God’s goodness to believers and hold nonbelievers at a distance, we are sent into this world with exceedingly good news and, more significantly, a heart that shows God’s goodness to everyone. We aren’t supposed to keep people out of the net. We draw everyone in and trust Jesus to sort it later. It’s how He has chosen to grow His Kingdom on earth. And it’s how we join Him in His work.

ADDITIONAL READING: Romans 12:14-21

Christ sent me to preach the gospel, and He will look after the results.

MARY SLESSOR