Day 348: Fishermen for Something Greater

Luke 5:1-26; Ezekiel 48; Isaiah 66

One thing that I love about this story of catching all the fish and becoming "fishers of men," is the decision of Simon, James and John. As experienced fishermen, they knew that the catching was slim that day. They had tried and tried with no results. Suddenly, with Jesus in the boat, they catch more than they can handle. Some people in this situation would want to keep on fishing, thinking that Jesus was a good luck charm. But not these men. They recognized that there was more to Jesus than just being a magic fish attractor, so they chose to leave fishing for Jesus. Even despite their new success at fishing, despite the results in that area, they decided to take that moment of productivity, of blessing, give credit to the right person, and do something more important. May we, too, not see Jesus as just a good luck charm, but as our Lord and teacher.

This passage says "News about Jesus kept spreading." Despite the fact that he probably told a lot of people the same thing he did the healed leper: Don't say anything about this. Jesus' power, his influence, is so powerful, that people shouldn't be able to help but tell about him and hear about him. The problem (as I see it), is that we aren't following the real Jesus or we aren't following him at all. Here in America, if church-goers would stop just being church attenders and start being Christ followers, I truly believe that our nation could be changed and "News about Jesus [would keep] spreading."

In Isaiah, there are a couple of powerful verses. First, "The people I (God) treasure most are the humble--they depend only on me and tremble when I speak." Very cool. Then, God says "I will comfort you there like a mother comforting her child." That has new meaning for me now. God is the ultimate comforter. I love these scriptures that give a glimpse of God's heart. He doesn't want the proud, the tough, the fearless to be his followers. He wants honest people who shake in their boots sometimes, but rely solely on him. And he loves us like a mother loves her precious child. Giving life, time, and love as much as that child needs. Our God is so good.