Luke 5:1-10 – Lets go Fishing!

Luke 5:1-10 - One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 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 catch men." I used to go fishing with my dad when I was a kid. I would sit on the dock and cast my line out and then reel it in as fast as I could. When I did catch something dad would have to come over and get the fish off, get the fish back in the water, bait the hook again and get me ready to fish again. I had a blast. I never knew the other side of it until I had a kid of my own. Now when I take my daughter out, I have to do all the work and I realize that I do not have as much time to fish as I used to. In our passage today we see Jesus out doing some fishing. After he gives a lesson He takes some men out to deep water to fish. They had been doing this all day with no luck but were willing to obey. When they did they had more fish than they could hold. So many that they had to call for help. They ended up filling up 2 boats to the point they almost sank. I can tell you I never had that type of haul fishing off the dock with my dad. But when you think about it, it’s not like they did not have the best fish finder in history with them. Jesus told them what to do and led them where he wanted them to go. The fishermen obeyed and the catch was great. He then told them "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." We are asked to be fishers of men even today. We have the Holy Spirit as a guide and he has put us amongst the masses. We should have no trouble what so ever in finding “fish” we can reach. If we obey and go where He leads us, we too can have a catch like they had way back then. What holds us back from doing this? Too often it is the one thing He told us not to be, we are afraid. We are afraid of rejection, afraid of leading folks wrong, afraid that we might not be well received or liked, afraid of what it might cost us. If you read the word you know that He is always with you and through Him anything is possible. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do everything through him who gives me strength”. You do not have to be afraid. You do not have to doubt that you can go be fishers of men. You have the truth on your side. You have God on your side. What better bait can you possibly have? Beats a worm or the stink bait I used to use any day of the week.