Read Luke 5:1-11
The story of fishermen turned followers is familiar. But personalizing it brings it home. These guys stood tired from a long day?s work and Jesus was asking to do it all over again. He wanted to put the boats out in the water and go even farther out. Imagine leaving the office at 8pm after a solid 12 hours of work and there stands Jesus saying let?s go back to the desk for another couple hours. ?You can?t be serious.? ?Yes, back in and even further out.?
Once again God was right and man was wrong. The deep water brought a huge catch. A net breaking, boat sinking catch, send for help, catch. On their own nothing, under Jesus? leadership more than ever imagined. It was as if your W-2 so high you paid 20 friends? house note for the month.
Then in verse 10 &11 the entire story spins around. If the episode ends in verse 9 we say ?Oh yeah, if I try nothing, but let God lead then the big deal will go through.? Not so fast? The blessing was definitely there, but then the ol? switcharoo. Jesus moves us from earthly to eternal in our perspective. ?From now you will be fishers of fish men.? (Strikethrough mine). The goal of their occupation and life switched in an instant from feeding the stomach to feeding the soul. God wants our eyes on the catch that matters, the souls of men. Each day we are making choices of what we are fishing for. When we pull up the anchor, head out in the water of school or work, what are we hoping to catch? Are we fishing for people?s approval, our comfort, more money, or the lost? He has placed us each in a specific boat, sailing strategic waters, for significant fishing! Verse 11 shows how this type of fishing changes the saltiest of fishermen, ?SO they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.? At the pennical of their career they left it all to follow their All in All. Jesus was so incredible they left at the top of their game. The greatest catch was nothing compared to following Him. Holding out for God?s best instead of the world?s ?good enough? is worth the wait, putting the most incredible internship on hold to do missions for the summer makes sense, loving and following Jesus no matter the weight of the nets is normative Christianity. Nets, even full nets on the best day dim in comparison to following Jesus as fishers of men. ?Lord, take us to deep waters for significant fishing no matter the cost!?
Application Questions:
What are you fishing for most days?
Why are the souls of men the most rewarding catch?
What is an example of a net He is calling you to drop to follow Him?
