"Master," Simon replied, "we worked all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again."
Luke 5:5
Luke 5:5
Have you every given God an "if you say so" half -hearted yes? Experienced anglers had been out all night with nothing to show for it. They were washing the nets when an inexperienced angler tells them to do something that makes absolutely no sense to them: go out deeper and let your nets down to catch some fish. Angler turned disciple Peter, gave Jesus a "yes but I don't so how" response to the command.
Peter knew Jesus. He had been an eyewitness to Jesus casting demons out of individuals. His very own mother-in-law had been healed along with many others. He knew Jesus was worthy of following and worthy of obedience so He obeyed. He obeyed but He did not believe.
Peter recognizes his unbelief, "Oh, Lord, please leave me-"I'm too much of a sinner to be around you." Did you notice the comma after "Oh" and "Lord?" A comma represents a pause. Reread this verse aloud pausing after the words "Oh" and "Lord." I did and it gave me chills bumps. This allowed me to hear the astonishment in Peter's voice recognizing his unbelief. Then in complete humiliation, calls himself a sinner unworthy to even be in Jesus' presence.
What valuable lessons for us today!
- Our obedience needs to be more than words and actions.
- Our obedience needs to be submersed in belief, demonstrating that I believe whatever He is asking us to do is possible, even if it seems impossible.
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Thank you. You are a treasure.
"If You say so" moments. Yes, I've had them. Times when I don't understand why He's asking me to do something, but just knowing I have to obey because of the One asking. Times when it just doesn't make sense to me. "Lord, I've tried that before. It doesn't work, but I'll do it one more time for You." We can always trust what He asks us to do, because we trust the One who is asking. It always takes a step of faith.
The "treasure box" in the familiar that God unlocked for me today was, "And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by..." Luke 5:17 (KJV)
Sunday afternoon I had opportunity to chat with a very dear friend. Easily, four months had passed since our last conversation, yet after only a few brief minutes of 'catch up' regarding our families, conversation turned to the sharing of God's Word and to truths we were currently applying in our lives. With my Bible open on my lap, she and I traced God's goodness and promises. We talked of the 'new Word' he had spoken into our hearts. We shared doubts and fears. There was no idle chatter. Eternal matters were the topic. Our hearts were burning within us to do more than listen, for living is our lot.
In the verse above we see the posture of passivity. The Pharisees were "sitting by" while Jesus was teaching. Matthew Henry writes, "How many are there in the midst of our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, that do not sit under the Word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent them; they are willing that we should preach before them, but not that we should preach to them."
Beth Moore questions: "Can you recall a time when you attended a Bible study or church service that profoundly affected a few of the people you were with, while others in attendance were completely unmoved? Like the Pharisees and teachers of the law, sometimes the unaffected can be the most 'religious' people in the room. Could the difference be that they were sitting by rather than sitting under God's Word?"
In Beth's book, "Jesus the One and Only", she encourages the reader to sit under God's mercy instead of sitting by with a critical eye. She writes, "If you will actively engage yourself in every message you hear or read, you will never hear or read another ineffective message."
Where are you positioning yourself? It's not so much a physical location, but a spirit's surrender. Think of the foyer conversation you indulge in at the close of Sunday's sermons. Do your words reflect the passion of one who has longingly sat 'under' the revelation of God's Word or impatiently sat 'by', checking your watch to see the time, oblivious to the miraculous? Words are falling around you, but not within you. Don't be satisfied with less when God wants to give you more. Sitting by makes you an observer. Sitting under makes you a participant.
What Word has He revealed to you that requires action today? Don't be caught 'sitting by'. Do something!
Moving in obedience,
Joy
Good Morning,
I loved this reading for today and Wendy and Joy your insights were wonderful! Oh Lord, may I obey with belief and may I engage myself every time Your Word is being taught, read or spoken! My daily prayer is that what I read in His Word it will become not just head knowledge, but it will become heart knowledge. That the words won't just be words on a page, but they will change me, change my life and my heart, that I will live a life more like Christ because of the Word I have read that day.
This week I am on the last week of Beth's Believing God Bible study. It has been fabulous! When I read Luke 5:12, "he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed," it reminded me of what I had just read in her study about how we need to be in the habit of being on our faces before God, humbly submitted to Him. Have you ever had a time where the prayer was so intense you had to be on the ground, face down? I know I have, sometimes in the most uncomfortable places, but it was that important and it was that intense. To completely humble myself before God and say, "I need You! I can't do this without You!"
The story of the men lowering the man down through the roof to see Jesus to be healed is one that means so much to me. Two years ago one of our mentor moms at our MOPS group did a devo on this story and I know that one of my dearest friends had her do this devotion just for me. I was going through the hardest part of my healing from my past at this time and this devo was about those we have around us that we call our "Rope Friends." I wrote a blog post about this experience. It was a wonderful devotion and if you have time please read what it was about. Here is the link:
http://setmyfeetonarock.blogspot.com/2009/06/rope-friends.html
I still have my "rope friends" today, plus have added a few more since this time, and we all need women like this in our lives that will carry us to Christ when we are too sick to carry ourselves.
Thank you for all the prayers for Will. He is doing a lot better today. I found out there were 5 kids in his class out sick yesterday (he only has 13 in there total). Strep, viruses and pink eye have gone around so it is a blessing in disguise that he has been home and only got the virus that he has had. We are going to stay home one more day and he will be able to go back tomorrow. Got to get the day going, breakfast made and John off to work. You all have a blessed day!
Hugs dear sisters,
Brandee, TN
I noticed all the link did not go through, it is: http://setmyfeetonarock.blogspot.com/
2009/06/rope-friends.html
Good Morning All~
Wow, between you, Wendy & Joy, I'm just sitting here taking it all in! Wow, lots to ponder over today! God's Word is alive and active! I love Wendy, how He keeps showing you new nuggets! It gives me so much excitement to keep on this journey year after year! Joy, I almost could feel your conversation with your friend as the two of you,"spoke eternal matters," so exciting to me!
There were several sections today that I just loved. I loved when they talked about Jesus reaching out and touching the leper, how He was, "moved with compassion," Mark 1:41). Such a deep human emotion and true expression of the loving heart of Jesus.
and...
"But, Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer," (Mark 1:16). Oh, how Jesus completely submitted to his Father's Will. No matter how busy Jesus was, or how tired He was, He prayed. He talked to His Father. Constantly.
Just like married couples today...the more we communicate and talk to our spouse the more we know them. The more we talk and communicate to God, the more we KNOW Him. We can't really expect to KNOW God, by just spending time with Him in the morning, reading His Word. To experience His presence all day long.
and...
I also was so impressed with the story re: the paralyzed man. This shows friendship of the best kind! It was crowded. People swarming everywhere. No open spots where Jesus was. Can you imagine? Friends, picking up "their friend," in order to take him up on the roof (!) and lower him down in order to get closer to Jesus! Can you imagine sitting in the group listening to Jesus speak, and then out of the blue, down from the ceiling...comes a leper! THIS shows us so clearly how we need to do more than what we are doing! We need to make SURE that all of our friends experience the Jesus that we know! We may be their only hope!
Ladies, such good, good, good, reading today! It's like it is just so good, that you want to re-read it for a day or two...but, tomorrow, there is more goodness! That's why next year excites me, to do it all over again! Thank you LORD, for this journey! Thank you for bringing us all together through Wendy as we each seek to know you better and better.
Enjoy His presence, all day long, my dear friends. Lori - AZ
Goodmorning All,
I fell in love with Luke 5:5 when my Pastor spoke on it a few Sundays ago.....'but if you say so'....
These words takes me back to childhood (years of innocence), when I was being taught some of life's lessons through my guardians. One particular quote I remember distinctly is 'Don't talk up with every guy you meet, because sooner or later, they will have your name up on a flag pole'. I had to trust that my aunt knew what she was saying because I didn't know at that time and she didn't clear it up either (I guess she wanted to keep me in the dark for as long as she could have).
I said that to say this, we have to trust God to lead us now that we are adults just as we trusted our parents to lead us when we were children. We thought that they knew everything because most things they said, happened. But today we are assured that God is ALL knowing, All powerful and He is everywhere, I totally trust Him, lead me, oh, Lord, lead me!!
Be blessed all!!
Chanan, Bahamas.
p.s I later found out that what my aunt told me was a cliche that meant that girls should not engage themselves with every guy who ask them out because sooner or later she would have gone out with all of them and would become the subject of their conversations.
Hi ladies,
Elliot finally gave me a few min to do some reading. Lately, every time I pick up my computer to do the reading, it seems Elliot chooses that time to eat or want a cuddle. But what a blessing this morning.
I have been feeling guilty that I have not been in the Word as I was before (or having anytime to really be with Him in a meaningful way) and praying for God's understanding in this situation. Today this line jumped out at me...Luke 5:33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”
I felt God's mercy pour out on me. In His great love - I felt Him say, eat, drink, rest and build up your strength for the journey I have prepared for you. Stop worrying about not "praying" or "following" in the perscribed ways right now. Thank you Lord for your understanding and love.
Brandee - I often had very bad croup as a child, my throat would close up so bad it was almost like an asthma attack. Anyhow, our family cure believe it or not is melted fat off a cooked goose. About a tablespoon with a little sugar for taste (cuz it's gross). Loosens everything up! That and lots of steam (we used vicks in a vapourizer). Hope that helps.
Have a great day girls!
Jodie
You gals hit on all the points I underlined! Way to go God! We love you!
Morgen - MN
ps to Jodie: We put so many more expectations on ourselves than God ever does; relax, enjoy, and love that baby boy!
I have thoroughly enjoyed today's insights - life application is what I hunger for... teach me, Oh Lord.
My nugget (or one of them) was Luke 5:38-39, "New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. 'The old is just fine,'they say."
We are new creations in Christ - we don't need to keep ourselves in bondage to our old nature! Even the butterfly must leave behind its dirty, broken cocoon (safe place) if it wants to fly! Why are we satisifed with less, when Jesus wants so much more for us?! Might I add another spin... had I been satisfied with my "hit & miss" Bible reading, I would have missed all the insights gained this past year!! And yes, Wendy, my treasure chest is full of precious nuggets!
Oh Lord, let me hunger and thrist for the new wine you pour out daily... may I never be satisfied with the old wine.
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