Luke 5:1-6 NKJV — So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
It seems like we are racing against time. Deadlines are always being set and we bend over backwards just to meet them. There are moments when no matter how many times we meet those deadlines we have that feeling that we are underappreciated. Like an assembly line worker at a car factory, we work, doing the same thing over and over again hoping someone will notice. All that hard work and nothing to show for it. Why keep going on? A question the disciples of Jesus asked themselves many times. It’s a question we ask ourselves in our everyday life. “Am I doing enough? Why are my nets empty?”
The answer may be right in front of us. If we only take a step back, take a breath and put our trust in the Lord. – It was 1995 and I was working for one of the top TV news stations in the United States. It had been a long 6 years and videotape editing the news had become second nature to me. In 3 short years I had become the chief editor at WTVT TV in Tampa, Florida and you would think that it was a great career achievement but at the time I felt worn out, underpaid and unrecognized. As in most things in life, circumstances changed and I made a lateral move and went to work at WFAA TV in Dallas, Texas. I had worked hard to be an exceptional editor but I still felt empty. Like the disciples who fished all night and caught nothing, feeling unworthy, I felt that maybe I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.. Days ran into each other, news stories became one long story of gloom and doom. I was ready to quit, just give up, then one day I was nominated for a “Katie” award for editing a news series or documentary.
I was overwhelmed. Out of all the TV news bureaus and news TV stations in Texas I was recognized and congratulated by my peers and the Texas Press Corp. – The Lord had given me the talent and the ability to work in the TV industry but I had taken it for granted. God had used this recognition to remind me how blessed I was. A good job and the ability to provide for my loving family. It was the foundation He had given me to be prepared for future endeavors the Lord would guide me through. Repetitive work can be a good teacher for patience when waiting on the Holy Spirit to show us the next step in the ministry of the Gospel.
John 21:3 NKJV — Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
The disciples had experienced many things while walking with Jesus. The triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, Lazarus being raised from the dead, the trial, the crucifixion and His glorious resurrection but what was next? Jesus had appeared to them and instructed them to go to Galilee. As they waited, they decided to do the one thing they knew how to do, fish. The nets were empty. The all-nighter had no results and like many of us who do the same and expect fruits from our labor there is, what they call, “no joy.” We can’t get the necessities we need to carry out the task the Lord has called us to. Obstacles stand in our way and when they do that’s when we must pray and just like the disciples returning to the shore discouraged, the sun begins to rise;
John 21:4-6 NKJV — But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
When we hear the call and begin a ministry to preach the Gospel takes a huge step in faith. It is something not to be taken lightly. Being led by the Holy Spirit to places, countries and customs you may have never heard of requires a lot of prayer, fasting, training and counseling to help us have the right direction and tools we need to fulfill the Great Commission the Lord has called us to. Before we take that step there is a question that we need to answer. The same question Jesus asked Peter;
John 21:15-22 NKJV — So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
The Lord reminded Peter that preaching the Gospel would not be easy and may even cost him his life and not to be concerned with what others do. – If we take up our cross and deny ourselves to follow Him we may experience many empty nets. We must be relentless in preaching salvation and redemption to a world who desperately needs it. Whether we are delivering pizzas, selling cars or editing the evening news, the Lord is calling on you to be a witness and a living testimony of God’s love, hope and peace. Take the step and let the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen your faith in the ministry God has called you to. Throw your nets on the right side of your “boat” and catch the harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.
Mark 1:17 NKJV — Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
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