A Minute In It - What Do You Fish For?

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. Luke 5:1-11 (NLT)

Why was Simon reluctant to let down his nets when Jesus asked?
Why did he give in and do it anyway?
When they pulled in the catch, what was Simon Peter’s reaction?
Peter had seen Jesus perform miracles before, why did this one bring him to his knees?
After such a huge catch, Peter and the fisherman were going to be set for a long time, do you think it was harder for them to follow Jesus and walk away from that success?
Would it be harder for you to walk away from your success to follow Jesus?

You Want Me To Do What?

“Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.” Acts 9:10 (NLT)

Ananias was a Jesus follower. One day he was minding his own business sitting in his house and God spoke to him. When Ananias heard God call his name he replied with a “Yes, Lord!” The Lord then instructed him to go to help Saul.

Wait. What? Saul as in THE Saul that killed people who love you? The SAME Saul that was there when Stephen was stoned? The very Saul who has shouted threats against your people and is making it his life mission to go around killing us. That Saul?

Yes, that Saul.

Right at this point Ananias had a choice to make. He could take everything he knew about this guy and decide it’s too risky and obviously the Lord wouldn’t call him to do something so dangerous because God loved him and wouldn’t want him to put himself in such a risky position. Or, he could go.

Ananias must have really trusted God. Because in spite of the reality before him, in spite of knowing he could be arrested, thrown into prison and die, he went. He went because he trusted God. He went because he knew the Person behind the voice and he knew that no matter what was going to happen, God’s plan would be better. God’s purpose for his life would be fulfilled even in his death and that was what he lived for.

He got up, went to Saul, He laid his hands on him and prayed for him. He commissioned the man that would further the Christian faith like no other. Of course, he didn’t know all this at the time. Afterward, he went home and felt good that he did what God said (and he didn’t die.)

What about you? What is God asking you to do that you are afraid to do? Maybe, like Ananias, you should remember the God you know and follow his lead. Maybe there will be a kingdom impact beyond what seems humanly possible. You see, when we follow God and say “Yes, Lord!” the kingdom impact is always more than is humanly possible. It is God ordained.

Nana's Legacy

Therefore, go and make disciples....Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

When I was growing up, my grandmother was the first disciple maker I ever knew. She would come faithfully every weekend, pile all of us into her car and take us to church. Lest we misunderstand what a disciple-maker is, let's talk about what it is not.

Being a disciple maker is not about getting someone to church. As a matter of fact, that is the last thing it's about. Being a disciple maker is about pouring yourself into someone's life so they begin a relationship with Jesus. Of course, you can't pour out what you don't have so it also is about you being discipled as well. Who disciples you?  God. It's about listening to the Holy Spirit and following the leading of the Voice.

Back to my grandmother. Every day she spent time in prayer and with Jesus. I knew until the day she died that I was prayed over daily. She would call the house on a regular basis and talk to us. She was involved in what we were doing and every weekend she'd come pick us up and take us to church.

She was a disciple maker. She invested in the lives of those around her. She lifted  them up to the Lord daily, she was involved in the day-to-day and she reflected the love of Christ that was in her heart.

As I walk this journey of being a disciple of Jesus and discipling others, it had not occurred to me until just this weekend that I had witnessed this in action. Today, I am praising God for the folks who spoke Jesus into my life. Now, I have to go and do that for others.

Refocus

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

Lately, I’ve been repeating that verse a lot.  And it suddenly dawned on me that maybe I don’t fully grasp what it means. Is it possible that when we repeat that verse we are focusing more on the “I can do all things” part and not the “through Christ” part?

I’m pretty sure the intent of this verse isn’t that we pick something we want to do and because it says "I can do all things", that we can just do it.  For example, if I decided I wanted to be a famous singer I am pretty sure that wouldn’t happen. You’d agree if you ever heard me sing. It’s not about picking some amazing goal and then believing hard enough so it happens.

The focus is really on “through Christ.” In other words, learning to lean on him, turning my eyes to him every day to get through the “all things” that cloud my view.

Maybe a paraphrase will help.

I can handle whatever life throws at me; whether it be losing it all or gaining everything because each and every day I turn my focus on Jesus who provides the strength, courage and stick-to-it frame of mind I need to sort through my crazy days.

Now, I just need to focus more on Jesus and less on the “all things” part. Easier said than done......

Changing Status Quo

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 (NLT)

Matthew. A tax collector. He was hated by the people because he worked for Herod and Herod taxed the people heavily. On top of that, it was widely thought that the tax collectors charged more than was needed to skim extra off the top for themselves. Matthew would have been ostracized by his community. He would have been despised.

Somewhere along the way though, he met Jesus. He probably wanted to spend more time with him but anyone would have known that he would not be accepted. He wouldn't pass muster. Look at his career choice and the way he lived his life. Certainly not that of a disciple. So he went back to work and believed that anything more wasn't for him.

Jesus walked by and said "Follow me." Notice, he didn't say follow me and I will provide everything, give you a new career and make sure life goes smoothly. All he said was "Follow me." Matthew then had a choice. He could sit in his tax booth, continue to become more and more wealthy and live life in status quo or he could get up and follow. He chose to get up and follow.

In each of our hearts God puts a longing. He puts a longing for something more, for something better. He doesn't lay out the plan so we will feel safe. As a matter of fact, he usually doesn't share any details. He doesn't promise that everything is going to be fine but he extends the invitation anyway because he knows in the end, it will be perfect.

Matthew needed to choose. He needed to step out of his comfort zone and step into the unknown. He needed to know what he wanted more: status quo or to follow Jesus.

Each of us has to make this choice. Will you or will you not follow Jesus? One will keep you safe and secure; the other will be an unpredictable adventure. One will leave you feeling empty. The other will fill you up in ways you can't even describe. So which is it? Will you say yes to the invitation?