FROM THE PULPIT: WITH GOD IN OUR LIVES, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN'T DO

I remember going fishing as a kid, down to the bluegill pond on my dad's farm. (We also sometimes caught catfish, if we were lucky.) One particular day, fishing with my cousin, it was time to go home way too soon. Besides, we hadn't caught all that much that day. I told Uncle Dick, "Just one more cast!" I didn't even have bait on the hook, yet surprisingly, I caught one fish on my hook, and as I was reeling it in, another got tangled int he line! Two fish with one cast and no bait!

Now I know you will be saying "Well, I guess we can't trust this guy to tell the truth, either. Just listen to that fish story!" As Dave Barry might say, "I am NOT making this up!"

Whether or not you believe my fish story, it illustrates how often we give up too soon and just a little more effort is all that it takes. And often, it's not so much OUR effort, but what God does that makes the difference. I don't so much believe in luck so much, as I believe in God's providence, you see.

The apostle Peter had such an experience once, too. One day Jesus taught the people while Peter and his partners were washing their nets by the shore. The crowd was large, so Jesus used Peter's boat to preach from. When Jesus had finished speaking, He told Peter "Push the boat out into he deep water, you and your partner, and let down your nets for a catch."

"Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. Yet, if you say so, I will let down he nets." They did so, and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were on the point of breaking. They got their partners in the other boat to come and help them and filled both boats so full, they barely stayed afloat. When Peter saw all this, he fell down before Jesus, crying "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he and his partners were utterly amazed at the huge catch for fish.

But Jesus told them, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be fishers of men."

Peter and his partners pulled their boats ashore, left everything and followed Jesus.

As Peter's story illustrates (from Luke 5:1-1), we can work and work and work and see little or no results. We tire from the effort. We give up. But have we done what Jesus has called us to do? Have we waited for His timing? Have we lived in obedience to Him? Do we have faith to go on?

We can trust our own efforts. But if we try to do the Lord's work our own way, we are not doing His work at all. Our work will bear little fruit.

But, if we hear the call of Jesus, we must answer it. For it is there where the blessing lies. With Jesus guiding our efforts, how can we fail? We may not even know the timing He has for us, and we may want to give up. But we press on, not knowing which "cast of the nets will fill our boats." "So let us not weary of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest." (Galations 6:9)