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Topic: Fishing (06/07/04)
TITLE: There's a Hole in my Net By Leticia Caroccio 06/10/04 |
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Simon had been out fishing all night but to no avail. Nothing seemed to be biting today. As he was heading back to shore, he took this time to think. “Who was this Jesus that he had been speaking to lately?” he thought. As he watched the waves of the Lake of Gennesaret, he felt something stirring in his heart. Again, he had a thought, “Yes, there is something about him that is unlike anyone I’ve ever known”. His thoughts were interrupted with the approaching shoreline. He knew he would think about Jesus a lot more. He prepared to disembark. He was tired and wanted to go home. Sleep would come easily.
Simon awoke still thinking about the Lord. It was a beautiful morning so Simon decided to walk along the shore for just a little while. He was still trying to figure out Jesus and what he was doing to his heart. As he was walking to his boat, he noticed that Jesus was sitting in it. Simon quickened his step. He was curious and wanted to know why Jesus was in his boat; he sensed it would be no ordinary day.
Jesus, with a twinkle in His eyes, smiled as Simon approached. “Let’s pull out a little from shore”, he tells Simon. As a small crowd began to gather, Jesus taught them from the boat. His lesson was only beginning, as Simon would soon learn.
My Jesus, as I am learning, teaches us lessons in ways that are relevant and meaningful to what our interests are. He will do whatever it takes to draw us to Him. Our interests and livelihoods are important to Him and He will use them to make a point.
Simon, a fisherman, knew fishing. He knew this lake. He knew fish. He did not know the power of Jesus, yet. Jesus tells Simon to put out the nets. Simon, like all of us sometimes are, doubted. His vision was blurred; he couldn’t clearly see the reason why the Lord would tell him to do something that he knew was for naught.
In spite of his doubt, Simon put out the nets. He said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets”, (Luke 5:5). The nets became heavier and heavier. The weight of the catch was so tremendous that their nets began to break. They called for help from another boat. Both boats became so overloaded with fish they began to sink.
Jesus set out that day to teach Simon a lesson on obedience and in the process taught lessons to us all; lessons that are still relevant today. If we obey, His blessings will spill out and overflow in our lives. We wouldn’t be able to contain it. Simon, in spite of his doubt, was obedient to the Master’s command. The catch of the day was not just fish, but, an overabundance of faith and loyalty.
Jesus called Simon out that day. He would now be a fisher of men. Simon would never fish that lake again, but instead would help evangelize the world. The hearts and souls that came to know Jesus, through Simon Peter’s ministry, would overflow like the fish on the boats that morning long ago. Many lives, just like Simon’s was, would be changed forever.
As a Christian for a little over a year, I have struggled with faith and with episodes of doubt. Everyday there are new opportunities to trust and to increase my reliance on Him. This chapter in the life of Peter inspired me to, not just believe, but to take a step of faith, despite my doubt.
The holes in my net are missed opportunities of expressing faith and the opportunities to share it with someone. Thank God for His grace and His patience to teach us lessons. Little by little the Lord is repairing the holes in my nets that sin has caused. As He does this, I am learning to see more clearly and trust Him. His blessings have already begun to overflow in my life.