Listen

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.”

Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.”

Luke 5:1-5

Think

When I was a teenager, I was always pessimistic (my friends and children would tell you I still am, especially when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys!). Each time that I would react negatively to something or utter a pessimistic thought, my mother’s reply was always, “well, your father and I gave you the right name… Thomas…Doubting Thomas!”

The fishermen had given up fishing for the day because they had caught nothing, and they were most likely discouraged. Yet Jesus tells Simon to go back out, a little further, and try again. Thinking this itinerant preacher was a minor nuisance, while at the same time showing him honor and respect, they follow his directive. More often than you and I would care to remember, our arrogance and impatience serves as a barrier for the witness God has called us to be.

Tom Baynham

Question to Ponder:

What are the areas in your life that cause you to be impatient?

Pray

When my arrogance and pride become barriers to my being a witness for you, open my ears, my spirit, and my heart to your guiding voice.

Lately my pride and arrogance have gotten in my way when…

Help me to be humble in listening to your voice. Amen.

Go

“To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission.
The spring from which our service overflows.
Across the street or around the world, the mission’s still the same.
Proclaim and live the Truth in Jesus’ name.”

Jon Mohr and John Randall Dennis, “The Mission”