Luke 5: 4 – 7  When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” 

As I read through the full passage Luke 5: 1-11 this section in the middle (verses 4-7) really caught me. The fishermen were tired. They worked hard all day and bore no fruit for their efforts. They probably came in from the water feeling defeated, embarrassed and frustrated with all the wasted time for that day.

Then Jesus comes by and talks with them for a time. The scripture doesn’t indicate what Jesus said here. But after teaching from the boat, Jesus tells the fisherman to go back out and drop their nets. So, with faith, the fisherman went back out.

Now this is the first thing that really caught my attention. How many of us would go back out and drop the nets again? Do we truly trust God, when He speaks to us? Do we believe that if we obey His calling that He will be faithful to bless our actions? Do we trust that He will work it all out for good or do we fear that God can’t accomplish what He is calling us to do?

Well, the fisherman trusted in blind faith and went back out and dropped their nets. They heard God (although I am not sure they truly understood the magnitude of who was speaking to them as you’ll see in a few verses) and took action on His calling – His command, and went back out in the waters and dropped their nets.

This is what caught me next. What if they didn’t go back out in the water? What if they decided they were too busy or too tired to try again? What if they thought that they knew better and that nothing would ever come from going back out and dropping their nets?

I will tell you what would have happened… They would have missed out on not only the blessing of God but they would have missed out on the true EXPERIENCE of God in hearing Him and acting on His word and calling for them.

How many times do we hear God’s still small voice telling us to do something where He is just waiting to bless us (and others) with amazing things and we don’t act? How many of us feel too busy or too tired or ill equipped to move for God?

For myself, I know I have heard God’s calling and have not acted. My reasons? Too busy, not sure it was God, too scared, lack of confidence…[fill in the blank] because I am sure I have said it. I look back and feel sad at now understanding the time I have wasted in not moving when He called me.

But in verse 6 the fisherman experienced the blessing of God because they acted in faith and obedience. And in verse 8 they are overwhelmed with emotion, telling God to “Go away from me, I am a sinful man.” (This is where they truly understand the magnitude of our Lord).

That experience was more than pulling up a net full of fish. It was an act of love and blessing straight from God. I am sure you had to be there and experience their emotions throughout the day (and maybe even throughout the years before – who knows). We were not there to hear what Jesus shared with them when He taught in the boat – but maybe hearts were stirred before the calling from Jesus was spoken.

What I am sure of is the men didn’t fall to their knees because Jesus brought them a net full of fish. What brought them to their knees was the realization that they were unworthy of a love so pure and so righteous, yet they received that love none the less. They realized and experienced the true nature of God and were overwhelmed with His glory in that moment.

God has that moment designed for each one of us – if we would just be willing to go out in the waters and drop our nets.  God wants to have that personal experience with each one of us. And as the love of a father, He wants to bless us abundantly (which doesn’t mean we become millionaires but rather we are 100% fulfilled in him and our souls are filled to abundance with His love).  He has a personal calling for us all and has gifted each of us with an amazing unique talent that is personally ours, as personal as our fingerprint.

My prayer for you today, is that you take some time to LISTEN. Just sit in silence with God and trust me when I tell you that in the silence, He will speak to your heart. Allow Him the time and space to share His will and calling on your life.

His will is perfect and his blessings are filled with love and goodness for you….Do not be afraid to follow His call for you.

So, what is discipling? I want to suggest this basic idea:

Discipling is learning and living the ways of Jesus so that others can “see” Christ through us. But Discipling doesn’t stop there. It is what the Great Commission is all about – Go and become fishers of men.

As a true believer, God is calling us, Christians, to live a life of “fishing” for souls. To live a life that is forever teaching and showing His great love to and for all mankind.

Discipling is about proclaiming the message of Jesus – telling of His amazing act of sacrifice and love. A Disciple of Christ lives to share the Good news of hope and healing, love and forgiveness… They share the Good news of eternal life with our Creator.

Today my challenge is this – Live this day in a way that honors both Christ’s love and sacrifice. Live this day as if Christ is walking beside you. Live this day believing that your actions speak of God’s trueness and presence to those around you, and that your actions, as a Christian, impact how others view and understand Christianity.

I have spent the past month examining my life as a believer. What I saw was a watered down version of an Americanized Christianity. That is not how I want my life story and legacy as a Christian to be. That is not what I want to show to those who are seeking, those who are questioning faith and belief in Christ. What a disappointment I have been…. But the good news is that our God is a God of forgiveness, love, compassion and understanding. He is a God of new beginnings. He is a God who can make beauty out of ashes. I have seen it first-hand. In fact, I am living it as I write this.

Through working through the pain and disappointment in my own marriage and family, God is teaching me the true power of forgiveness, mercy and grace. He is showing me my true self, in love. He is slowly revealing to me His will for this life He has given me. He is also teaching me how to love with His heart, how to forgive with His mercy, how to live in His grace.

Now my hope is to share this story of new beginnings with others. To help others see that our loving compassionate God is a God who can restore that which is broken, lost, and forgotten…He is a God of LIFE and LOVE. And LIFE and LOVE is not static but ever moving and changing – growing and learning.

I encourage you to share your story with us. Share how you live as a witness for Christ to others. Share how you live as a disciple – a fisher of men. Share how God is restoring your life, relationships and understanding of the Cross.