The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “THAT’S FISHING!” for Wednesday, 29 June 2016 with Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “THAT’S FISHING!” for Wednesday, 29 June 2016 with Scripture: Luke 5:1 One day, as Yeshua was standing on the shore of Lake Kinneret, with the people pressing in around him in order to hear the word of God, 2 he noticed two boats pulled up on the beach, left there by the fishermen, who were cleaning their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Shim‘on, and asked him to put out a little way from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Shim‘on, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Shim‘on answered, “We’ve worked hard all night long, Rabbi, and haven’t caught a thing! But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” 6 They did this and took in so many fish that their nets began to tear. 7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; and they came and filled both boats to the point of sinking. 8 When he saw this, Shim‘on Kefa fell at Yeshua’s knees and said, “Get away from me, sir, because I’m a sinner!” 9 For astonishment had seized him and everyone with him at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and likewise both Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Shim‘on’s partners. “Don’t be frightened,” Yeshua said to Shim‘on, “from now on you will be catching men — alive!” 11 And as soon as they had beached their boats, they left everything behind and followed him.
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Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets."[Luke 5:5 (CEB)]
One of the volunteers at our campus ministry invited me to go deep-sea fishing with him. I jumped at the opportunity for a new experience. It was a beautiful day with calm seas and a clear sky — but no fish! I asked my friend whether it was common not to catch anything. “Oh, yes,” he said. “That’s fishing.” Some days, even an experienced angler who is doing everything right may not catch any fish. Fishing requires persistence, a focus on good practices, and a willingness to accept any result.
Our spiritual practices of prayer, worship, holy conversation, and working for justice, to name just a few, can often seem like that fishing trip. Even when we “do everything right,” it sometimes feels as if we come up empty. Like learning to fish, learning how to be a disciple requires persistence, good practice, and a sense of peace — whatever the outcome. We keep trying, with the faith that even when “we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing,” Jesus is present with us, giving us a sense of purpose in his service.
The Author: David Hosey (North Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: No matter what, I can have faith that Jesus can work in and through me.
Prayer: Dear God, give us the patience to persist in discipleship even when we feel like we’re coming up empty. Help us to be faithful, even as you are faithful. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE FEELING SPIRITUALLY EMPTY

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