Back in the Boat

Luke 5:1-7
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

I attend a church that has a wonderful program called Saturday Night Service. It's wonderful because I get to go to church a few hours earlier then most people, we never did much on Saturday nights anyway, and I get to be lazy Sunday morning and sleep in. But I will admit, I find it very nourishing to my soul otherwise I wouldn't go. The worship services are great at drawing my focus in on God with modern music. Don't get me wrong, I grew up with all those old hymns and love them dearly, but the newer music is singing to God and not about God and I love that. The pastor is young, somewhere around my age but he knows his stuff. God is doing and will continue to do great things through this man as long as he allows.

This weekend we were privileged to have a guest speaker by the name of Ron Rhodes. A powerful Evangelist who spoke Saturday night on true Worship. The message was amazing. Today I downloaded the pod cast of Sunday morning's message. I listened to it twice and will probably listen a few more times tomorrow. The sermon text came from Luke 5, the scripture posted at the top of this entry. Then this man opened my eyes to something I hadn't seen here before. I will have to give you the gist of the sermon because there is no way I can do it justice. If you'd like to listen to the hour nineteen minute sermon let me know and I'll direct you to it.

Jesus has spent the day talking to the crowds near the lake. He looks over and sees Simon Peter washing his net. Peter was a professional fisherman, he didn't just do it on the weekends to relax, he didn't do it to just get away or when he had a hankering for some good ol' bass. No, this was his job, something he had done his whole life. He knew the ins and outs of fishing. He knew what time of day and in what weather he stood his best chances. Most of us I dare say work a job that if we're productive or not we're still going to get paid. This was not the case for Peter. He didn't catch fish, he went hungry. And here is Peter, washing out his nets and Jesus says to him, 'I need your boat.'

Peter could have replied, look down there a nice new shiny boat with all the bells and whistles, they'll take you out, but he didn't.

Let down your net, He says next. I imagine Peter pausing with closed eyes and taking a deep breathe, not really a thought going on in his head. Peter could have said, we've fished for 24 straight hours and have caught nothing. I'm tired, I want to go home take a long hot shower and slide into bed and just forget about this awful day. But he didn't.

Peter obeyed God every time despite his frustrations, despite his exhaustion, despite this was the longest night he had known up to this point in his life. Peter's nets were full of blessings! So many his boat began to sink, he had to call his friends "Hey! God's in my boat! Look at all these blessings! I have too many come over here and let me share with you and maybe your boat will sink too!"

I don't know you, but I've stayed up all night before. Haven't done it in years though, but I remember that exhausted feeling and when the idea of a nice soft bed is the only thought I had. I know how easy the tears came to my eyes and how short my temper was to anything keeping me from getting some rest.

But God, I'm tired of always putting into but not getting anything out of my marriage. But God, I've been sitting next to this hospital bed, or by the bed of a child child for so long, won't you do something? But God, I've been waiting for this this miracle to happen in my life and there's nothing. But God...

Get in the boat.

But God!

Get in the boat.

I think it's time for us to get back in the boat. We might be amazed at what happens next.