Caught Any Fish Lately

Luke:1 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.

When I was six years old my dad bought a boat dock on Norfork Lake called Fout's Boat Dock in Gamaliel, Arkansas. He proceeded to move our whole family to one of the most beautiful lakes in Arkansas and I began my life as a "lake rat" where everything we did was centered around running that boat dock. We moved from Charleston, Missouri, a town at the top of the "boot hill" in Missouri, so the change was very noticeable. We went from farm land to lake front and I loved it. One of the quircky cool things about the boat dock was the original owner, Roy Fout, had a little area to the side of the office dock where he had "pet fish." Yes, pet fish!! You could put both your hands down in the water with some crackers in the middle and they would let you catch them and pick them up. That little trick helped me through some boring days one summer and I never tired of picking up those fish and then putting them back. I felt like I had so much control, when in reality they wanted the cracker and would do whatever it took to get that cracker.

In the above scripture we see Jesus demonstrating His power over the elements and over fish by filling the empty nets of Simon, James, and John after they had fished all night and caught nothing. This miracle did more than just show them Jesus' power, and the end result led to a life-changing attitude about life itself. Jesus in a powerful way readjusted their life direction in verse 10 and 11. Luke 10: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.

Jesus has a very powerful "from now on!" It doesn't mean "wait until next week" or I''ll get back with you later", or even "think about this and get back with me." No, Jesus said "from now on" and guess what their response was back to Jesus. They dropped their fishing nets and followed Him! They left family, friends, vocation, and homes to follow the call of Jesus and the world was never the same! 

When Jesus calls, we answer. Is God calling you to follow Him in a new way? I sense some are giving up on the "share the message of hope" type faith we are all called to, and like Simon and the other fishermen they might be saying "but Jesus we have fished for so long and caught nothing!" Maybe Jesus is calling all of us to put our nets down in a different way and we will once again see the lost saved and the saved renewed! All of us need a shot in the arm from time to time to remind us that the Lord is still moving if we will just believe Him and follow His instructions. Our ongoing pandemic has forced us to once again ask Jesus to call us back to the task at hand. That task is a supreme high calling to win the lost, disciple those who are converted, and repeat. If we will grasp that call again, then I believe we will see our churches full to overflowing with new converts who are longing to grow in their faith.

The fish are still in the sea. We just need to throw our nets where Jesus instructs and we will once again see multitudes coming to Christ. I pray for full nets and for this movement to be so real and widely encompassing to the point of churches working together to handle the movement and keep it going.

Don't forget verse one in this above scripture where it says 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. When preaching, remember to preach Jesus to those who are seeking becasuse He the only hope for those who are losting and hurting. Jesus will bring the people to the message and the Word of God will enlighten their hearts to the message of hope. Just like me catching those fish with crackers, Jesus draws those needing Him by offering them something much better, new life. We just have to let them know about it.  Caught any fish lately?  It is time!! 

Th Pilgrimage continues.....

David Warren