PASTOR’S CORNER, Bailey Norris, New Beginnings Church, Liberal
Growing up fishing was a very normal part of our family. Fishing tournaments as a child, spending weekends at a lake and all the fishing stories that come along with it, exaggerated or not. I am often drawn to the stories of the disciples being called to follow Jesus, not only because they are now following Christ but because of the fishing imagery that is used. Luke 5:1-11 stands out because we are called to fishers of men.
Luke 5:4-7 (NIV) 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 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.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 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 can imagine the disciples frustration as they are being told to let down their nets again as they have been fishing all night. Just because they placed the net down again did not promise fish but they experienced a miracle. They did not just catch a few but an amount that weighted down their boats. There astonishment at the fish being caught revealed the promised Savior.
Luke 5:8-11(NIV) 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
After the miracle, Jesus called the disciples to follow him. The disciples would have done the same thing day after day but just dropped everything. They would only have had a faint idea of where it would take them. It would be a life full of pain and heartache but worth it. Jesus calls us to follow him, the same way that he called the disciples. We are called to chase after him. We chase him not because it is easy or we will become perfect but because he is worth it. We know that when we chase him with out everything he will show up. He will move in ways that only he can. When our faith feels week, all we have to remember is that he called us. He is the one that we get to surrender to time and time again.
We are not only called to follow him but to share the Gospel with others. Jesus called Peter and the others so that the good news could go wider and wider. Jesus doesn’t want to leave people out. He desires all to walk in relationship with him. As Christians we get the privilege of not only following Jesus but pointing others to the miracles that he has done for each of us. We get to live out of the overflow of relationship with him.
Let us live lives not only of following Jesus, but in such a way that draws others to him
