Cast the Clean Nets

This post is so overdue and has been written long ago. Yet it is an ever-timely reminder of the purpose and ministry we’ve all been given as Christians

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets _ Luke 5: 1-2

The boats were at the edge of the lake and the fishermen had left them to wash their nets. They had given up. Many time we have also gone back from the middle of the journey to the beginning, the edge. We are washing our nets ready to go back to where we are coming from.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch _Luke 5:4

However, Jesus came along and ask them to pull back into the deep water and let down their nets for a catch.

This is the same nets they had washed and were ready to pack up.

Simon Peter said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets _ Luke 5:5

Personally, I would be very reluctant to throw my clean nets into the ocean again at the word of a stranger after my wasted effort all night.

But I began to think of it, of what benefit is a clean net anyway? It would be of more benefit if let out for a catch. 

It’s called a fishing net for a reason. To catch fish. Though I might get disappointed and fail again to catch a fish, another try won’t hurt. Many of us have been disappointed and failed in things we’ve set out to do over and over again. We’ve been diligent and committed yet no result and we decided to pull out. But are we going to have enough faith to throw the net one more time at the word and command of God?

If God says to try again, will you have enough faith to try again?

If God has told you to do that thing but it’s not yielding any fruit when you expect it to, will you keep on going?

Will you obey even when it makes no sense?

Will, you cast the clean nets one more time?

When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink _ Luke 5:6-7

Simon Peter and his crew cast their nets one more time and caught a large amount of fish, their pretty, “clean” nets began to tear.

I don’t know about you but I’ll rather see my clean pretty net begin to tear than stay intact.

I’ll rather suffer for the sake of the gospel and Jesus’s name than live a comfortable life only to die vainly someday.

Jesus said, “From now on you will be catching people.” Luke 5:10b

You will become a fisher of men. I will give you a new net (my word and teachings).

The gospel is a net that we must let out, preach out, yell out in faith and boldness to catch more people into the kingdom of God.

While we may be persecuted, insulted, belittled, rejected multiple times, we must continue to let out the gospel at every opportunity we get.

It is an urgent and life-giving good news.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will burn within us from the inside out and empower us to preach the gospel in boldness, authority, and faith. May we also be strengthened and empowered to push forth in God’s purpose for our lives regardless of oppositions,  obstacles, and disappointments in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

God bless.

You are Eternally Loved.