Folks are all wired differently. Some are more passive, and some more active. Not that there are two clearly defined categories or anything, but some folks tend to let things more or less happen “to” them and other folks tend to go and try to “make” things happen. Being too extreme on either end has its consequences.
I am thinking a lot today about the idea that we are expected to do our part in this life. Even if God blesses us abundantly through His provision and a clear, specific purpose for our life, we still have to make the choice to actively pursue those things and help them to happen. Sometimes, it will take a lot of effort and a huge investment of our resources. Sometimes it will even mean that we have to ignore others who can’t see or understand our calling, so that we can instead be completely attentive and attuned to the Lord’s voice and direction through it all. It’s interesting to consider.
I know this is on my mind because I was reading the book of John today and the first part of chapter 21 made me stop and think for a bit. At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus appears to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. This was the third time, according to John, that He showed Himself to them after His resurrection. Peter had gone fishing, and several others joined him. They got in the boat but didn’t catch a thing all night. Jesus showed up on the shore early the next morning but they couldn’t tell that it was Him. Jesus called out and, well, at this point, I’m going to just quote verses 5-12 directly…
“He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’”
There are a couple of things that stand out to me about this. One is that the disciples did not catch any fish until they did exactly as they were directed by Jesus. Trying to do so beforehand, without His prompting, yielded no fish. Yet, in the same boat with the same people (the exact same resources), the disciples caught many fish as a result of their prompt obedience to Jesus. His presence and their listening made all the difference. When the Lord is asking us to do something and we obey, we will be blessed. It may not be in a way as obvious as it was for the disciples that day, but we will be blessed all the same.
I also think it stands out that they obeyed a “stranger” who made this suggestion. They did not know it was Jesus – they couldn’t see that it was Him from their boat. Yet, I think when we know the Lord and are familiar with His voice, we can sense it in a way we can’t describe, even when spoken through a stranger. Sometimes, the Lord’s voice comes to us through others when His Holy Spirit moves and prompts others to speak to us on His behalf. We should hear others out and be open to feedback, but most importantly listen to and obey the prompting and feedback from our Lord. I wonder if I would have instantly obeyed if I had been in that boat, or if I would I have been more like “Hey, wise guy, we’ve been out here all night and we’ve already tried the right side. Do you think we’re idiots?!” I may very well have been snarky like that after a night of catching zero fish and most likely being deprived of my coffee that morning.
Also, notice how when Peter heard John say that the man was their Lord, he jumped into the water to swim to Him. He literally couldn’t even wait for the boat to make its 100 yard trek to shore; He had to go be with Jesus immediately! Talk about being more active than passive! That image is making me cry right now at Peter’s expression of such a deep love and joy. What a picture to tug at the heartstrings! When I realize where Jesus is and where the Lord is moving, do I react in such a way?
Another part of this story, and the one I am reflecting on even more, is that the disciples did their part; they did what they were expected to do. They were instructed as to where to cast their nets for fish, they obeyed, and they caught 153 fish as a result. The Lord told them where to cast, but the fact of the matter is that they were out there in the boat already. They were out on the water, prepared, and casting for fish, which is why Jesus could tell them to simply cast their nets to the right. They promptly obeyed. Jesus had fish already cooking on some coals, as well as some bread. He Himself brought fish to the table, so to speak, and it was Him who helped the disciples to catch even more themselves. Even their catch was through His provision. Although Jesus could have done all the work alone, He directed the disciples on what they were to do so that they could partake in the work. They could play a role in catching breakfast. Jesus didn’t just give them fish; He helped them to catch their own. And the reason they did catch their own is because they were actively obedient to His command.
It makes me draw a parallel to when Jesus performed the miracle of the feeding of thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish. That time, Jesus again included others in His work. He used what others could humbly provide and ended up feeding thousands. At the end of the day, could He have done that without them? Yes. He didn’t need those loaves and those fish, but imagine what that act taught those who offered up what they had to be used by their Lord for further good! I think the fact that Jesus invites us to help, to play a role in the story, to assist in catching breakfast, teaches us a lot about who He is and how He thinks of us. I think it is one of the most highest blessings. It is evidence that He trusts us with His important work. He calls us brothers and sisters. Isn’t that amazing?! He wants us to help Him and be actively involved in what He is doing. The Lord can do it without us, but He wants to bless us through our investment. Through our giving back of the resources which He has given to us in the first place.
The Lord is the One who gave you any and all of the fish which you are able to bring to the table. (Fish is a metaphor here, by the way.) We may have had to actively pursue or foster these things, but the Lord is the reason we have them. I wonder if we ever stop to think about that. If we consider that any fish we have can be used for Him. That it is perhaps why we were blessed with those fish in the first place.
Lord, thank you for the blessings, talents, and skills you have given me. Help me to bring them right back to You so that we can have a good, big breakfast. Together.
1 Corinthians 12:27, HLC
sacred strokes 