Lord, Fill My Nets

Have you ever gone fishing? I like fishing. Most of the time the fish don't cooperate with me. They eat my bait, laugh at me, and swim away. Perhaps I should say "I'm going to feed the fish" rather than "I'm going fishing".

Some of the apostles were fishermen when Jesus called them into ministry. They used nets to catch fish rather than poles - you can catch many more fish with nets. One day after a bad day of fishing (I know the feeling) Jesus tells Peter to launch the boat again and drop their nets. Peter reluctantly rowed his boat back into the lake. He and his fishing buddies dropped the nets and "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." (Luke 5:6-7)

Wow! From a bad day fishing to the best fishing day ever? The difference? Jesus. But why did Jesus do this miracle? Was He hungry? No. Were Peter and his buddies hungry? No. Were the townspeople starving? No.

Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:10-11

Jesus wanted to show them his power and what He intended to do through them. He also informed them that they would be changing profession - "from now on you will catch men."

They were now to fish for men, and catch them by the boatloads.

My prayer is "Lord, fill my nests. Let me fish many people for you, through your power and for your glory." Will you join me in praying this for your life?