¹One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, ²he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  ⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  ⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  ⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So 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.  ⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.    Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” ¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Meditation:

1. After a whole night’s labour, the fishermen didn’t want to try again, they were depressed and exhausted.  How similar this is to our own lives.  We have all experienced failure which often left us feeling guilty, shameful and self-distrust.   Then, we wanted to quit, withdraw and to be away from people.
2. Jesus does not get us to do something entirely new but sends us back to what we’ve been doing all along, but this time with Jesus.  God wants to be in command of our lives – our work lives, our family lives, our leisured lives.  Same boat.  Same Commands.  Same nets.  But now Jesus is with us – and that makes all the difference.
3. Is Jesus on your LIFE boat?  Who’s in command of your journey?  What are you experiencing right now?  Just be quiet before God and allow the Holy Spirit speak to your heart.  Respond and speak to God as you are so moved by the Holy Spirit.

Suggestion for Family Devotional Time: What did the fishermen say when Jesus asked them to go to the deep water to fish?  Why?  What happened afterward?  What’s the difference between the fishermen’s first fishing trip at night and the second trip after Jesus told them to?  Sing this song: “With Christ in my vessel.”

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 7:1-3

¹ My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; ² keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; ³ bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.