One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God. Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat.
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon,”Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish.”
Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will.” When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.
When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Jesus said to Simon,”Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.” When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. Luke 5:1-11 (NCV)
On Monday when God laid on my heart to share about being amazed, little did I know how amazed I was going to be just the next day. You see, I’ve been “working hard†for many years and felt like I had caught barely enough. I was ready to hang up my nets for a while and just sit on the shore of my life and watch the days pass on. But Jesus kept coming up to me and telling me to let down my “net of prayer and hope†again. And so I did.
The night that I committed my life to Jesus I naively thought that I had made the biggest step of faith and from then on I would walk in the “glow†of faith. I thought that my life would jump from mountaintop to mountaintop with Jesus clearly before me with His hand beckoning. I would know that all my needs would be met – more than I could ask or imagine. I forgot God’s first promise in Genesis that I would have to live in a fallen world and work by the “sweat of my brow†(Genesis 3:17-19).
God has never abandoned me. He came right into my life, where I was sweating, and brought His Hope to me. He sees me sweating and rather than allow me to wallow in pity (which doesn’t come from Him!), He climbs into my life and says, “Come on, Jody, throw that net of faith out there again and see what you catch (learn)!â€. Some days it may seem like I am learning very little – a few sardines. But then there’s a day like yesterday and the net comes up bursting with His blessings!
If you are struggling and wondering if it is worth casting your net out again – DO IT! Pull your Bible out and reach in again for a “nugget†of God’s promises. Put in a CD or tune your iPad into a song and lift your voice. “I can’t see that net full of hope yet, LORD – but I’m going to sing any way!†And when that day comes when the net in your life comes up full to breaking – then PROCLAIM IT and encourage someone else!
Now turn up the volume and praise our LORD whether your net is full or not today. He is faithful!
Revelation Song by Jennie Lee Riddle (2009), sung by Phillips, Craig, & Dean
