ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

Are Your Nets Empty?

Luke 5.1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,

2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 

3 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. 

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. 

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 catch men."

11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. 

Jesus knew how to get a person's attention! He demonstrated the reasonableness of the unreasonable to the fishermen. In other words, they saw astonishing results when they were able give up their ideas about fishing and submit to the command of Jesus.

They saw the demonstration and were later able to trust and obey Him as He gave them other commands.

Luke 6.46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 

49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

The hearers may have agreed that only a fool would build a house without a foundation...but Jesus was not teaching them how to build a house. He was teaching them that His blessings are for those who are willing to obey Him even when it seems unreasonable...as unreasonable as it may seem to the novice builder to prepare a foundation. That is the essence of obedience--trusting Him enough to do what He says regardless of what I think about it.

When I look at what I am doing, do I have His "say so"? If I do not, I am like the foolish builder and the fishermen with empty nets. 

When you are tired from working hard all night--or all day--recall the words of Peter: "But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When you are distressed or discouraged...or when you are holding "empty nets," trust the One who astonished the fishermen.

Dear Father, we want to trust Jesus in all matters. We are so grateful for the salvation, purpose, wisdom and hope in Him. May we proceed with His "say so" today. Help us to always trust and obey. Help those who are hurting.  We ask this in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen

1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 

Only God can know HOW our prayers WORK but we believe HE answers. Please write me to add names to the prayer list and to report changes in status.

Let us be thankful and prayerful!

Love
Brad Forgy