dayEIGHT :: From Now On

Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." - Luke 5:10

There's this story about Jesus that is worth noting on our journey.  Apparently one morning, the crowds were already pressing in on Jesus wanting him to teach them more.  They are up against a lake and Jesus notices two boats owned by his disciples cleaning up after a night's fish.  He hopped onto Peter's boat and asked him to let out a little into the water so he could speak to the crowd.  After speaking to them, he turned to his disciples and suggested they go out into the deep water and let out their nets for a catch.  The disciples must have been perplexed.  They had fished all night and caught nothing, and now Jesus wants them to go out and do the same, expecting different results - isn't that what we call insanity?

They do as Jesus suggests.  And they caught nothing, just as the night before!  No.  They caught so many fish that their nets began to break.  Those on Peter's boat called over to James and John and their boat came over and filled up their nets too.  Unbelievable!  Their boats were so full that they began to sink.  Peter fell on his knees and worshiped Jesus at that moment.  He and his companions were overwhelmed with awe.  Jesus told Peter to not be afraid, that from now on they would fish for people instead of fish.

Many people have asked why we were starting a church in League City.  It does seem that we are not the only ones starting churches in our area.  I just got a nice color flyer in the mail from one church that is now 1 year old.  Why would we be "fishing" in a lake where there are already boats?  We believe that Jesus has climbed upon our boat and said, "Go out into that water."  In a sense, we have said back to him, "People have worked hard in that area, do we really need another church?  But because you say go, we will let down our nets."  

We cannot say that the other "fishermen" have had no success, or even what "success" really looks like.  However, we do know that 80% of the people in our community don't go to any church on Sundays, which is a pretty good indicator that they are not connected with God in any life-impacting way.  I may not be Bill Dance, but if there is a school of fish, I'm throwing my net there.

From now on, we fish for people.  We are casting the abundant life of Jesus to those who are starving for something more than what they've been experiencing.  We are casting hope to the hopeless, family to the fatherless and purpose to the aimless.  Our vision is to be a neighborhood-centered church where the active presence of Jesus is seen in every neighborhood in western League City.  We are casting our nets, expecting God to do the unexpected.

prayTODAY ::

Spend a few moments this morning, asking God to give you faith to be obedient.  Ask Him where He wants you to cast your net?  Ask Him to show you "fish" in your world?  Who are your neighbors?  Who are your co-workers?  Who are your friends?  Our lakes may have been fished before, but Jesus is calling us to go now.  We go because He says go.