My dad took my brother and I primitive camping to the Rockies, Smoky Mountains, Big Round Lake and several campgrounds, and he was passionate about fishing on our vacations. Jesus said he would teach us to be fishers of men. Passion is a gift and we can consider what we are passionate about. Peter was passionate about his job fishing, Jesus asked him if he loved him more than fishing and if Peter could be as passionate about his love and work for fishing and feed God’s people. Peter was called to the Jews.
I was watching the movie “Walk the Line” made about Johnny Cash’s life. God can take such a little thing in our lives and make it powerful. For Johnny, he took this one song he wrote in the military about Fossum Prison, and then he ended up cutting an album to men in that prison. Johnny liked fishing when he was a boy, and Johnny liked fishing for men.
Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17-18
Apparently, the little boy who had two small fish in his lunch either knew how to fish or his parents did. Fishing and farming were common to make a living in Jesus day. Notice it says “small fish” maybe the boy or his parents were not very good at fishing or for the boy the small fish was adequate nourishment. When I catch a small fish, I usually throw it back. When I lived in Florida, they had those blow fish that were full of teeth and you thought you had a good fish on your line, just to be disappointed (sort of reminds me of dating…LOL) The boy gave Jesus his two small fish and loaves of bread. Jesus fed the 5,000.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, told Jesus that there was a boy in the crowd who had brought a lunch. The lad, or someone who cared for him, had planned ahead and he had five barley loaves of bread and two small fish. Even though he had brought the lunch for himself, he was willing to let Jesus use it.
Even though he had brought the lunch for himself, he was willing to let Jesus use it. That is the way I look at my “stuff/things” whether it’s my house, money, car, boat, if Jesus wants to use it --- he used the boat to preach in and after he used the boat – he filled the boat with fish!
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." Luke 5:3-4
Many people think they are an island to themselves, but we are not. When Jonah was running from God, he caused a whole ship of people to worry about perishing. Jonah said they had to throw him overboard (without a life jacket)---noticed that Jonah did not jump in the ocean. It’s sort of like me telling someone just push me out of a plane without a parachute in today’s society.
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?" Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Jonah 1:11-13
Why did they have to throw Jonah overboard? I think it’s because we have to throw off our problems or get rid of our problems. They are not necessarily going to jump off on their own. Some problems will disintegrate as we abide in God’s word and then the fruit of the spirit will manifest in our life or spend time in God’s presence.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4
God is in the “picking up pieces” in life as we see in Paul’s life. Paul perceived that his ship was going to wreck and he warned the captain that they would only be saved by hanging on to a piece of wood. Paul saved all hands on the ship with his word of encouragement.
But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Acts 27:22
So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:25
The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety. Acts 27:44
I like this commentary on broken pieces and clinging on to broken pieces in our lives: http://familylifesa.org/sermon-notes-i-made-it-on-broken-pieces
No comments:
Post a Comment