Telling Others

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19 (KJV)

Torrey believed that growing Christians are working Christians. He said: “The working Christian is the happy Christian. The working Christian is the strong Christian.”

He compares it to exercise. You can’t keep your body strong without exercise, and you can’t keep your soul strong without serving God. He even says some Christians never drift away “because they are too busy about their Master’s business to backslide.”

Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Torrey says that helping others come to know Jesus is part of following him. And he links it to joy. Jesus said that bearing fruit would make his followers’ joy full. Torrey says: “Those who are full of activity in winning others to Christ are those who are full of joy in Christ Himself.”

What does that look like for a teenager? It doesn’t have to mean preaching on a street corner. It might mean praying for a friend by name every day. It might mean inviting someone to youth group, or being honest about your faith when someone asks, or simply being kind in a way that makes people curious.

Torrey also had a big heart for the whole world. He wrote a chapter about missions, reminding his readers that Jesus’ last command was to make disciples of all nations. He said there were three ways to “go”: some of us can go ourselves; all of us can give; and all of us can pray.

He encouraged every Christian to be open to God calling them to serve in another country. You may not know yet what God has in store for your life. But you can tell him now: “Here I am. Use me wherever you want.”

And meanwhile, you can start where you are: with the people in your own class, team and street.

One thing to do this week: write down the names of three friends who don’t yet know Jesus. Pray for each of them by name every day this week, and look for one natural opportunity to show kindness or share something about your faith.