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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Luke Chapter 5, we read of a crowd gathering to hear The Word of God. They are not there for healing nor for personal blessings.
There is nothing wrong with that, but on this occasion we are told they were listening to the Word of God.
Jesus is at the water’s edge and perhaps almost being pushed into the water, Jesus decides to get into one of the fishing boats and it happens to be Peter’s. Jesus asks Peter to push out a little from the shore.
Peter is so willing to put his possessions at Christ’s disposal.
Use it as you wish. There are no strings attached, and no conditions, and no contract!
When Jesus finishes speaking and teaching He asks Peter to launch out into deeper water and fish!
Peter’s reply is quite remarkable. We have been out all night and we have not caught anything. We have been most unsuccessful.
It appears an unreasonable request, by every human calculation. It looked useless and worthless and a complete waste of time.
Sometimes our best efforts can appear so futile and fruitless, and then Jesus comes along and changes the situation suddenly and dramatically. In our lives there can be wasted hours and wasted energy.
“Master, we are tired and weary and we have had enough for to-night. Results have been nil, but because You say so!” How did he say that? What was the tone of Peter’s voice?
Try again. Be open for a surprise. Forget past failures. If Jesus says do this, then I’m going to do it.
Peter rose above his natural feelings, to obey Jesus.
Within a short while the nets as so full that they have to call for help. They need the co-operation of their partners. They could not cope on their own.
Miracles, blessings, whatever they might be, can be accompanied by a whole new set of problems. God wants people working together, and that is one of the hardest and most challenging situations we face in the Church of Jesus Christ today.
They had been quietly washing their nets!
Jesus can use the most disappointed dispirited unlikely people, who are open to His Word – and His voice – and His command.
Peter is so astounded at what had happened that he fell before Jesus and ask Jesus to go away from him. What a prayer!
Are you glad that sometimes Jesus overlooks our prayers? It was an impetuous request.
The catch of fish is amazing. Those who witnessed what happened are astonished or shocked and stunned. The results and consequences of obedience to Jesus surprised and even disturbed them.
Soon, they were going to fish for men. The word “catch” here means “to take alive”.
What followed was three years of teaching and training and observing and discipling, for leadership.
Jesus Christ calls and trains and then commissions. We sometimes meet people who would like to be commissioned and appointed without the training and disciplining.
Beware of those!
Verse 11 is their vision. We hear a lot about “vision statements” today. These men have to re-arrange their priorities.
New realms of service involve deeper commitments, but on this day it began by lending a boat to Jesus.
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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