When Jesus asks us to do a task, we can trust the outcome. In fact, we will be more blessed than before. Jesus sees how hard you work and how you persevere in times of difficulty. Just as he was in reach of the fishermen of Galilee, he is in reach of your heart. He knows your hardships and he is present to carry you through each one with miraculous results.
Enjoy this brief excerpt from Sharing Stories of Jesus with Children as well as my reflection and scripture reference.
Jesus is in the foreground on land speaking while five fishermen work their empty nets on a boat in the water.
Fishing
Boats are idled
a net is cast.
The bait is useless
no fish to be had.
Nothing is biting
heated words are said.
It’s getting frustrating
mouths need to be fed.
Along comes friend Jesus
who suggests a repeat.
The fish jam the nets
there is plenty to eat.
He holds conversations
seems to know their heart.
Then asks them to follow
they begin a fresh start.
His words of wisdom
will be shared and then
instead of the fish
the disciples catch men.
If you enjoyed this poem click on the books link within this website for easy access to purchasing Sharing Stories of Jesus with Children. God Bless You.
Reflection:
When we watch Deadliest Catch on TV, we can begin to imagine the harrowing dangers in the life of a fisherman. Although some of these challenges might not be applicable to the fishermen of Galilee, some parallel the show. There are weather issues, difficult labor, and pressure to come home with a catch. The men are not educated but they are “street smart.”
Imagine you are Simon Peter. You have spent a long day lowering and raising heavy nets in inclement weather and you still come up empty. “What am I doing wrong? Am I in the wrong place? Is it the weather? How will I provide for my family?”
Along comes a friend who isn’t even a fisherman and he says to try again. Simon might be thinking to himself, “What a waste of time but I have nothing to lose.” Miraculously this time there are so many fish they can hardly lift the nets.
When Jesus asks us to do a task, we can trust the outcome. In fact, we will be more blessed than before as evidenced by the abundance of fish in the nets. Jesus sees how hard you work and how you persevere in times of difficulty. Just as he was in reach of the fishermen, he is in reach of your heart. He knows your hardships and he is present to carry you through each one with miraculous results.
These amazing fishermen were selected by God to catch the hearts of thousands including future generations like you and me. What does the Lord have in store for you? Don’t miss your opportunity. Pray, listen, and respond to His will for your life.
Luke 5: 1-11
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He 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.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 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.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 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.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and 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 fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
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