Yesterday pastor Jim Laffoon gave us a fresh revelation concerning a story we have heard many times before.

Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around Him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

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.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.

Jesus revealed His awesome power through the abundant supply of fish.  But His point in doing so was to set their hearts on fire for Him.  Their callings were to be fishers of MEN, not fish.

Okay, now that you’re familiar with the story in Luke, let’s see the parable of the net.

Matthew 13:47-50
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteousand throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Pastor Jim compared believers to the net.  Each knot in the net represents us.   You and I are tied to the people around us — our local church body and the people we do life with.

I couldn’t find this in my concordance, because for some reason the word “down” in verse 47 isn’t even in my older concordance — but Pastor Jim said the original meaning doesn’t just mean placed down, but THROWN DOWN.     Wow, now that changes the perspective a little when you happen to be the NET doesn’t it?  Sometimes we are THROWN into situations that have us at the bottom.

The drag nets used in the Bible had weights at the bottom to hold them down and some type of buoyant object at the top.    As the nets were DRAGGED through the waters, fish were caught in the net.

Now, take this parable back to us.   Sometimes we feel like we have been thrown into an uncomfortable place.  We may not even know how we got there, but nonetheless, we are at the bottom.   Pastor Jim said that sometimes we are  in those places that we normally wouldn’t be by our own choosing, so that we can touch those around us in that location.   We never know who is watching us as we walk through life.   Perhaps someone will notice the way we persevere with peace and joy in a difficult situation.  Maybe we will be the ray of hope that will point them to Jesus.

The thing about being a net for the Lord is that we won’t see what we have brought with us until we are up and out of the water.

This ties into something Beth Moore shared about community.   God has called us to community (we form a net).  Community is messy!  It is much easier to withdraw and remain safe in our own cocoons isn’t it?  Especially for those who have been hurt by community.

I was sharing some of this with a dear heart-friend yesterday.   I haven’t seen her in a long time and we finally had a chance to exchange our Christmas presents.   I cried as I told her the burden on my heart about not doing enough for the Kingdom.    She confessed that The Holy Spirit used my voice the other day in her heart and she heard me say,  “What are you doing to further the Kingdom?”  Little did she know our conversation was going to be exactly about that a week or two later!    She was so hurt by a nasty church split years ago that she and her family stopped attending church all together.   She has locked herself away in her home and has disconnected from the net — from community.   She is gifted in discernment and now those gifts are lying dormant.   I understand her heart.   We all need grace and mercy and our gifts MUST have the filter of God’s love — not hurt and anger.   Oh how I have grieved over so many mistakes I have made in my life — especially in times of leadership.   I wish there was a spiritual do-over where we could go back and ERASE actions, but thankfully our sweet Father knows our hearts and covers our mistakes with the Blood of Jesus.

Have you disconnected from the net? 

Are you connected, but thrown to the bottom of the water where it feels cold and dark? 

We never know who is watching us in the good times and in the bad times.   Don’t be discouraged if you have been thrown down — look for the purpose around you.  Who are you around that you might not normally cross paths with?   Will you have a deeper understanding of others in the future when they request prayer for being in a low place?

The day is coming when you will be pulled to the top again by the Master Fisherman and you will see the CATCH!  You will see the wonderful souls caught for the Kingdom of God.

Have HOPE today!   If you are disconnected – reach out and trust God again …

Thanks for visiting me.

I pray each of you have a wonderful day!