John 21 is one of those passages that most kids learn at a very early age. We sing the song, we make the sailboat motions, we cast our nets on the other side. Unfortunately, when we grow up, a lot of Christians forget the main point of that passage. We’re supposed to be out fishing.

It’s hard to be a fisher of men. These days, if you approach someone about the gospel, they’re half-likely to throw your Bible back in your face. People get indignant and obnoxious, and what started off as a conversation with good intention becomes the disappointment of rejection.

And yet, one simple phrase in that passage gives us great hope.

Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.

Is there a possible implication that if the people we’re evangelizing aren’t responding, we should look elsewhere to spread the message? Somewhere out there, we’ll find a netful of people who are ready and willing to respond to the gospel.

Matthew 10:14 emphasizes this point:

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

In other words, move on and let it go. Focus on the next opportunity.

Most fishermen know that you might have to cast your net several times before you finally catch that perfect fish. And a Christian trying to accomplish God’s will for them to evangelize might receive several discouraging rejections prior to converting a single lost soul. But we must press on and keep trying.

For the journal entry today:

1. In John 21:6, underline “Cast your net on the right side of the boat.”
2. In the margins, draw a boat in the distance. (I’m doing this so my people don’t look like a third grader drew them, ha ha!)
3. Write the link to Matthew 10:14 on the boat.
4. In Matthew 10:14, underline “shake off the dust from your feet.”
5. In the margins, draw dust around a pair of feet.