On My Mind...
We all have those folks in our lives who have been there challenging us to better ourselves. To do more, to achieve greater success. They say, “Great. Way to go! Now let’s really do it.” Bless their hearts – they mean well but they tick me off! Do you remember those “president’s physical fitness test” in school? They said they were intended to promote physical fitness – I know they were intended to humiliate those of us who were “gravitationally challenged.” So many sit-ups, chin-ups and so forth. I hated those days. Mr. Robinson would say, “Okay Rodney it’s your turn.” “Do I have to?” As if wearing those “husky” jeans were not enough – I was paraded in front of the class to once again fail. After considerable effort to getting me up to the bar – he would step back and say, “go!” I would hang there for a few tenths of a second and then drop to the floor. He would say, “Good effort. I thought you were going to do one. It was better than last time.”
Coaches who would slap you on the back and encourage you – then challenge you to reach a little higher – work a little harder. Teachers who saw untapped potential and sought to bring it out. Parents who knew you were capable of more. But the great encourager is the Lord Jesus himself. Who not only challenges to greater heights but enables us to reach them!
As we follow our Lord through the Gospels, we find Him lovingly leading the disciples deeper in the walk of faith. As He sets before them the great truths of the kingdom – He calls them to a deeper understanding and a more demanding commitment. In Luke 5 we have the account of our Lord’s calling Peter, James and John to greater faithfulness. After speaking to the crowd, He told Peter to put out into the deep and let down his nets. They had just come in from a night’s fishing. They were tired, this was not the time for fishing and certainly the wrong move to go out to the deep. Peter replied (my paraphrase), “Oh sure, what do we know? We are just professionals who’ve been doing this for years, but okay, we will do what you say.” You need to hear Peter’s response laden with sarcasm. You know how it ends, their nets began to break due to the large catch, and they had to call for help! Peter’s sarcasm was replaced by shame, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” They left everything and followed Him.
This brief encounter reveals some important principles for us. First, our Lord challenged them to believe in spite of their doubt. The call of the Christian life is growth. To mature, to move on. Our Lord always calls us to do more than we think possible. This was the wrong time, the wrong place, if defied all that Peter knew. This was a call to trust the Lord, to walk by faith and not by sight. Second, our Lord graciously rewarded their obedience. I’m speculating, but I do not believe Peter acted on faith. That’s why he was shocked by the results. The point is, it’s not about faith but about obedience. As a result, Peter was transformed from an arrogant fisherman to a humble sinner. Which was necessary for Peter to see Jesus for who He really is – the Holy One. That brings us to the third principle, our Lord graciously calls humble sinner to follow Him. This is the whole of the Christian life. It starts with obedience even when it doesn’t make sense. That allows you to experience the Lord in ways you never dreamed, which in turn, results in a joyful surrender of all you are to Him. That’s what is on my mind this morning.
Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday!
Rod
Coaches who would slap you on the back and encourage you – then challenge you to reach a little higher – work a little harder. Teachers who saw untapped potential and sought to bring it out. Parents who knew you were capable of more. But the great encourager is the Lord Jesus himself. Who not only challenges to greater heights but enables us to reach them!
As we follow our Lord through the Gospels, we find Him lovingly leading the disciples deeper in the walk of faith. As He sets before them the great truths of the kingdom – He calls them to a deeper understanding and a more demanding commitment. In Luke 5 we have the account of our Lord’s calling Peter, James and John to greater faithfulness. After speaking to the crowd, He told Peter to put out into the deep and let down his nets. They had just come in from a night’s fishing. They were tired, this was not the time for fishing and certainly the wrong move to go out to the deep. Peter replied (my paraphrase), “Oh sure, what do we know? We are just professionals who’ve been doing this for years, but okay, we will do what you say.” You need to hear Peter’s response laden with sarcasm. You know how it ends, their nets began to break due to the large catch, and they had to call for help! Peter’s sarcasm was replaced by shame, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” They left everything and followed Him.
This brief encounter reveals some important principles for us. First, our Lord challenged them to believe in spite of their doubt. The call of the Christian life is growth. To mature, to move on. Our Lord always calls us to do more than we think possible. This was the wrong time, the wrong place, if defied all that Peter knew. This was a call to trust the Lord, to walk by faith and not by sight. Second, our Lord graciously rewarded their obedience. I’m speculating, but I do not believe Peter acted on faith. That’s why he was shocked by the results. The point is, it’s not about faith but about obedience. As a result, Peter was transformed from an arrogant fisherman to a humble sinner. Which was necessary for Peter to see Jesus for who He really is – the Holy One. That brings us to the third principle, our Lord graciously calls humble sinner to follow Him. This is the whole of the Christian life. It starts with obedience even when it doesn’t make sense. That allows you to experience the Lord in ways you never dreamed, which in turn, results in a joyful surrender of all you are to Him. That’s what is on my mind this morning.
Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday!
Rod