Read Luke 5:1-11. Key verse: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."
I flew to Oklahoma City this weekend. I am not an eager flyer. Nor am I a fan of spring break flyers on my plane. On the leg from Dallas to Oklahoma City, the announcment was made that we would not be a full flight and I was thankful that I might just get a row to myself. I sat towards the front and guess where most people want to sit. A woman and her daughter took the row across the aisle to join one who had already chosen the window seat. Then a little boy, about 11 or 12, who had already walked past, returned back and asked if he could sit in my row. Of course. But then he sat right next to me. I thought, why here and not the window seat? He then pulled out an old iPod with a cracked screen and started shaking it and putting it to his ear. If I wanted conversation this was my "in." I asked if his screen always looked like that and off we went into conversation. I learned the purpose of his trip, his little cousin's sixth birthday, and that if he were lucky, he would get to go fishing on his uncle's lake. He was an evangelist for fishing. He lives in Dallas and told me that if ever I found myself in Dallas and had time I needed to fish at this or that lake (I forgot the names!). His joy for the sport made me ashamed to admit that I had only tried it once and never again.
The fishing story in today's text tells of the awesome power of God to bring in when we think there's nothing to bring in. Our empty pews on Sunday tell us that we're like the pre-fishing trip disciples. We "try" or so we say, and there's nothing to bring in. Jesus said for them to try something different and that made all the difference in the world.
We can think we're powerless and live that way or we can say we serve a powerful God and do the things God has asked of us. In all that may happen we have to acknowledge that it was God's power that did what was done. We have to stand ready to call on God and then to be used by God for God's purpose and glory.
PRAYER: May I be Your vessel dear God of Your grace for the needs of this world. May my excitement match that of that little boy for fishing. There are so many that we have not yet reached, may I be among those who does reach them for You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
