This post follows up Sunday’s special message. If you haven’t heard the “Ready For A Miracle” sermon, get it on iTunes, or on our feed site.
“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.
Luke 5:5 NLT
Jesus was about to do something incredible. He was about to do something that would be written down and retold for thousands of years. But Simon really wasn’t that interested. This simple fisherman was busy cleaning up for the day.. Washing his nets. He was getting ready to go home. He was tired, and he wanted to eat.
Simon was in “maintenance mode.” The night before didn’t turn out much, and he didn’t expect that tomorrow would turn out much. He was just taking care of business, doing the bare minimum to get to the next day.
So when Jesus, the very one who had recently healed Simon’s own mother-in-law, called on Simon to go deep… Simon obeyed, but only partially. Sure, he did what he was told… But he took only one boat. Just one. He did the bare minimum of what he had to do.
Simon didn’t really believe that Jesus would turn out much.
Of course, we know the story. Jesus blessed beyond Simon’s capacity to receive. That’s right… He blessed beyond Simon’s capacity to receive. They had to call the other boat out just to drag in the nets that had already been cast.
What if Simon’s capacity had been higher? What if Simon had responded to Jesus’ challenge by obeying fully? What if Simon had taken BOTH boats out? What if Simon had seen Jesus coming, and had strengthened his nets, rather than just doing maintenance? What would have happened then? Would not Jesus have blessed beyond even THAT capacity?
Are we ready for His miracle?
Sometimes, I wonder about drifting into maintenance mode myself. I get to where I am in the routine… The mundane. I forget that Jesus is at work all around me, and that He looks me in the eye, and he says “Come, follow me… I will make you a fisher of men.” This has profound implications in my life, doesn’t it? How do I respond to his call today?
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT
As he did with Simon Peter, Jesus calls us to lay down our preconceived notions, our preferences, even our desires so that we can become a “living sacrifice” for Him. What does this mean? Obviously, it starts in the “way you think.” But look at a few of the next verses to see how it works out.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.-Romans 12:6-9 NLT
So here is the big question… Are you and I truly using our giftings in serving the Body of Christ as He has called us to do? (Ephesians 4:16) Are we obediently and ardently responding to His call to go deep? Or are we doing the bare minimum with little expectation? I hope that our desire is to be as strong and prepared for the miracle that Jesus wants to unleash upon us as we possibly can. We exercise our gifts in preparation for His blessings when we are praying, giving, and serving.
PRAY WITH US
Sign up for our Orchard Prayer Twitter
Meet for prayer together at 9AM at the Elementary School
GIVE
Make a priority of being generous by giving online
Attend the “Creating a Spending Plan” seminar this week
SERVE
Sign up to help with Seamless Summer
Sign up to volunteer in our Children’s Ministry during June
I believe that as we continue to live like Jesus lived, and press more deeply into the Gospel, God will prepare our minds and hearts for the big things He wants to do in us and through us.