June 19, 2014 John 21:4–7 (ESV) Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The Result of Obedience There have been times in my life when I have dutifully followed what the Lord asked me to do, and there have been other times when I disobeyed and did what I thought was right, contrary to Gods leading. In the first case, I didnt necessarily prosper but I did realize Gods blessing; in the second case, I may have prospered but I clearly lacked the peace of God in my decision. In todays text, the disciples have returned to fishing since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. There are Bible scholars on both sides who debate whether Peter, John, and the others were wrong for returning to their nets. The thought is Jesus had called them from that vocation into ministry, and that they should not have gone back to what was comfortable. I believe the disciples were perfectly fine to go back to fishing in order to earn a few dollars to pay their bills, and they were waiting on definite direction from God, which would not come until the first few chapters of Acts. There is nothing wrong and everything right about hard work. The question is when the Lord did call them would they respond and do as he instructed? If God is talking to you about ministry, you dont necessarily have to quit your job and run off to Africa or New Guinea in order to serve him. Too often there is so much ministry in our own backyard that is left undone because too few answer the call in our own community. We are too busy in our jobs, families, and hobbies to think about doing ministry. If we cast our nets in the direction God leads, we will be successful. If we simply fish on the side of the boat that is most comfortable for us, we will flounder and be less effective for God. Are you willing to fish where God would direct you? Cast your net in Gods direction and see what you pull in.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:00:00 +0000
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