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January 29, 2019
by Pastor Chuck SwindollScriptures: Luke 4–7
Edith, a mother of eight, came home from a neighbor's house one afternoon and noticed that things seemed a little too quiet. Curious, she peered through the screen door and saw five of her children huddled together.
Edith, a mother of eight, came home from a neighbor's house one afternoon and noticed that things seemed a little too quiet. Curious, she peered through the screen door and saw five of her children huddled together. As she crept closer, trying to discover the center of their attention, she could not believe her eyes. Smack dab in the middle of the circle were five baby skunks!
Edith screamed at the top of her voice, "Quick, children . . . run!"
Each kid grabbed a skunk and ran.
Some days are like that, aren't they? Pressures and problems tend to multiply.
Jesus, the Son of God, was not immune from pressures when He was among us. At one point, He sought a place of rest and solitude. Spotting a fishing boat at the water's edge, He stepped in and sat down and "began teaching the people from the boat." When He had finished speaking, He told Simon Peter, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
Simon said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets" (Luke 5:4–5).
No one can criticize Peter for being reluctant. He'd been fishing all night and caught zilch. But he wisely surrendered. "When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish . . . so that they began to sink" (5:6–7).
When the Master of heaven, earth, sea, and sky calls the shots, things happen . . . which explains Peter's explosive reaction: "But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, 'Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'" (v. 8).
Then Jesus said to him, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men" (v. 10).
Once they heard His invitation, they literally dropped everything. "When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him" (v. 11). Amazing, isn't it? They abandoned their nets, boats, business, and future dreams. Everything!
Perhaps it is time for you to take a mental boat trip out into the deeper waters of faith. And when Jesus says, "Follow Me," do it. Unlike Edith's kids, drop everything and run.
Is your life full of appointments, activities, hassles, and hurry? Are you finding all your security in your work . . . your own achievements? What is your "everything"?