“And He (Jesus) said unto them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’” Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
Among the many things used for fishing — such as rod and reel, dip net, gill net, fishhook, etc. — not much is said about a device
called a “jigger,” which is a very important tool for winter net fishing.
Jiggers are usually about 6 feet long, made from a plank 8 to 10 inches wide. It has a swivel arm attached to a spring to which a line is
fastened. Once a jigger is let down through a hole in the ice, nothing else works like it. Every time you pull the line, the jigger works away
from you. You keep on pulling and letting go of the line until the jigger is about a hundred yards away. Then you make another hole to get the jigger out, tie the line to the net, and pull it under the ice.
As for the jigger, it has done its job. It will be used again in the winter and only under the ice. The jigger is of no practical use for anything
else, but it is impossible to do net ice fi shing without it.
Jesus talked about fi shing for men. Perhaps you have thought to yourself that, since you cannot sing or preach like others, you felt somewhat at a disadvantage. But wait a minute! There are important things that you can do for the Lord.
You can pray for others that they will get saved. You can give to missions to help others share the Gospel, and you can talk to people
one-on-one. Even if there is only one thing you can do, do it for the sake of Christ!
Remember, the jigger is only good for one thing, but it is very important to that fisherman. The Lord looks at you as important to bring people to Himself.
Lord, please show me what my part is in bringing people to yourself.
— Bill Jackson
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org