A fishing secret

Years ago I heard a sermon that was word for word the message I’d previously heard, but given by another pastor. The first version affected lives; the second was without power, and even irritating.

Perhaps the second speaker obtained permission from the first to use his words. Perhaps it had been plagiarism.  Either way, something was missing. Today’s devotional reading seems a likely explanation. 

And when (Jesus) had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. (Luke 5:4–6)

First of all, God can do whatever He wants to do without any human help, yet He has chosen to do His work with our hands. The catch of fish was miraculous, yet God included the fisherman, his boat and his fishing tackle. He chose to use human instruments to do His work.

It is the same with saving souls. No one is saved apart from the work of God through the Holy Spirit, yet God is pleased to use the foolishness of preaching to reach lost sinners. No doubt He would be glorified if He did this apart from any human voice, but by using people, He is magnified.

This is easier to see by a simple comparison. The fishermen “toiled all the night and have taken nothing.” Why not? They were doing what they knew best. They had skill at fishing and worked hard, even all night. There were fish in those waters, but no fish in their nets.

Then Jesus came. The Bible says, “Without Him, you can do nothing” and “With Christ, we can do all things” (John 15: 4-5 & Philippians 4:13). The presence and power of Christ ensures success. Jesus sat in Peter’s boat, and by His will and mysterious influence, fish came into the net.

It is this way in evangelism and all Christian work. When Jesus is lifted up, His presence is our power. If He is left out by our choice or indifference, we can expect empty nets. We can work hard and do our best, even use words that have already proven to be good words, but without the power of Jesus, we are nothing and can do nothing. Only in Christ can I bear fruit and be an instrument in His hands.

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Lord, if You give me a nudge or a big push to do something for You, I need to be obedient, but I also need to be filled with Your Spirit. I don’t understand why You decided to do Your work on earth through us. We are sinners, forgiven, but so weak and flawed. How amazing and how wonderfully gracious that You include us in what Your are doing. Thank You for making me, an earthen vessel, Your dwelling place and sometimes Your center of operations.