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by Sandy Shaw
Everybody has setbacks – disappointments – and failures. That can happen even when we have put our energy and heart and soul into life.
Turn to Luke Chapter 5 and verses 1to 11 . Imagine the scene.
These fishermen have been out all-night fishing – working hard – probably for 9 or 10 hours. They are sorting out their nets and Jesus comes along.
Jesus sits down to teach. Jesus is about to choose these four men to leave their business and follow HIM.
Launch out and let down your nets. Now, they have been out all night – they have no fish – we haven’t had a sale – no business is coming in – nothing is happening – we go deeper in debt. People can experience setback after setback – life does not seem to get any better, at times.
We are all fishing after something – approval – somebody to love us – for significance – for security.
These four men are about to be blessed more than could have imagined – they cannot handle it all by themselves – and they have to share the blessing.
They go out fishing at the command of Jesus Christ and their nets began to break – that is a lot of fish! They caught more in a few minutes than they had caught in any one fishing expedition.
God can do things within ten minutes. God sent JOHN, and look what he did.
They gave JESUS complete access to the boat. They got JESUS into their boat. It is the same boat – the same lake – the same fishermen – the only difference was JESUS is in their boat – JESUS was with them at their work.
Your boat is how you make a living – Peter gives his job to Jesus – there comes a day when we dedicate our lives to God through Jesus – there is a difference between Jesus in our lives and Jesus in our boat.
When Peter did this, Peter gets blessed with incredible results.
Jesus uses Peter’s setback to bring about this amazing comeback. We often think that we have to be successful, and Jesus can use our success – that is not the way it works. They did not have to change very much – the location – the boat – their partners – NO. They just got Jesus into their boat.
They had to recognise and confess that their methods were not working. They are not novices – they are not weekend fishermen – this is not their hobby – this is their life – their business.
Sometimes our best is just not good enough – we cannot control diseases – the ageing process – the weather.
What am I to do when I have a serious business setback? What am I to do when I realise my life is rather empty?
1 – Give Jesus complete access to your business. “Jesus 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.” Veres 3 .
I must get Jesus into my boat – my boat is what I do to make a living. What does it mean to have Jesus in my boat?
2 – I admit that my efforts are not working – “When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now launch 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!’” Verses 4,5 .
Which of these is preventing me from admitting I need help? PRIDE? STUBBORNNESS? FEAR?
3 – I do whatever Jesus tells me to do – be willing to obey Jesus Christ even it does not make sense – even if it seems illogical – you can’t afford it – or it appears foolish to others.
“Simon Peter answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything, but because you say so, I will let down the nets.’”
Peter does not say – You are a carpenter I am a fisherman – you work with wood I work with fish – NO – Peter just launches out!
Jesus gave Peter a vision – God gave JOHN a vision – and a voice.
“Now launch out – let down your nets – into deep water”. What has God told you to do that you still haven’t done? Be baptized? Start serving? Forgive someone? Start tithing?
Whatsoever he says unto you – do it.
“Lord God – it is not always easy to do what Your Word says – to do what Jesus tells us to do. Take away that fear of being mocked and laughed at and ridiculed – take away the fear of sinning against what You have said and taught and revealed. Sometimes the water can look too deep – sometimes the challenge can appear too much. Encourage us and give us that ability to hear Your voice clearly, and to obey gladly and willingly – in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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