Greetings on this cloudy Molalla morning.
I plan to go out in a few minutes for a crippled brisk walk. My right knee is ailing and I can’t seem to do much jogging. Oh well, I suppose the reality of falling apart is right on schedule. Why would I (or anyone else, for that matter) ever think I could be exempted from the most certain fact of this fallen world? My simple plan is to continue living until I die—or until the dramatic event of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Lots on the list for the day. In the process of the day, let’s continue looking up for our redemption is drawing near. Those who are skilled with aligning current events with Biblical prophecy are becoming all fired up with excitement over the obvious fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 right now—right in front of us all. It’s appropriate for us all to get fired up. There’s no danger in that. But not getting fired up can actually be very dangerous.
Blessings on your day. Love and prayers—Ray.
One thing for sure: Jesus knows fishing! After all, He made fish! Like Peter, I was kind of handicapped when I last went fishing. About all we can do is try to coordinate with good conditions, but it plays out to be a trial-and-error activity. I only did slightly better than Peter. I caught two. Big deal! Peter caught nothing. But he was a nice guy and, after returning to shore, he let Jesus borrow his boat to use as a preaching platform while Jesus preached to a huge crowd lining the shore. (Just for amusement, notice that Jesus sat and the people stood—while we have the preacher stand and the people sit.) When the meeting was over and Jesus dismissed the crowd, it’s easy to understand Peter’s reluctance to submit to Jesus’ suggestion to go out fishing again. After all, he was tired, having fished all night with his associates, and caught zero. Based on such recent experience, it was simply a lousy time to go fishing. Yet, in respect to Jesus, he did so—probably thinking to himself, “I’m a professional fisherman. What does Jesus know about fishing?” Was he ever in for a surprise!
How do you explain Peter’s response to what happened next?—after beholding this “astonishing miracle” of filling two boats so full of fish that they were close to swamping? It was dramatically clear that Jesus had blessed him with the gift of an extravagant miracle. I’m reasoning that he faced two attitude options:
Jesus response to Peter’s contrition went like this: “Do not yield to your fear, Simon Peter. From now on you will catch men for salvation!” (v. 10, TPT).
I can only imagine that if Peter had selected option #1, he would have become very poor at catching “men for salvation”—maybe back to about zero. But, as it was, having chosen option #2, he was equipped to go on to become a dynamic representative of the Biblical Gospel. Furthermore, I can only imagine that He wants to use you and me in the same way.