Rowing the Same Boat

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Luke 5:4 - When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

 GREEK TERMS:

 ἐπανάγαγε (epanagage) - Put Out

To put out the things, not by our wish.

 βάθος (bathos) - Into Deep Water

Searching for something or into the journey of an excavation.

 χαλάσατε (chalasate) - Let Down

Letting go of our Self and getting closer to what's important.

 ἄγραν (agran) - For a Catch

The result or the fruit that we gained through our hardwork.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

While I was reading through this verse, I felt a deep relief of sigh, bcz what I was holding onto or what I had planned for, was making me feel heavy and tensed and even more worse than I expected. My ideas to do something for God in the ministry was for good but there was still a big question mark whether it was from the Lord? Whether my plans and ideas lacked God's Will? As a mere human being, we often make plans to do something great for the Lord. But we easily forget or take things lightly of What are God's Plan and His expectations towards us.. When God has called us to His Mission, we often mistaken ourselves as being the righteous one or the most appreciated and great leader. But it's not true. As a human nature, we tend to make mistakes in minute things which later on becomes a big problem which make us difficult to come out and solve it.

Jesus asks Simon to _Put his net Deep_ Simon explains Jesus about his whole night hardwork. But Jesus wanted him to obey and do as said. Here Simon was in need, he was desperate, that is why he worked the whole night long. Many a times we work day and night for the Lord but we don't get any results. It may be decades of rowing the same boat and find no growth, no fruit, no rewards... Why is the ground still flat, why are there no sprouts of leaves. May be our initial progress may have been exciting but why did the leaves dry out on a single famine?

WORD OF THE DAY:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, first of all let us put aside everything that we have planned, let us deny our desires, let us erase all our fonds and finds. I believe that God has called each and every one of us to His Mission. And when God alone has called us to sail with Him, let us make God our Captain. He is our Head and our Shield. Give a keen ear to hear the voice of God. In every step we take.. in every decisions we make.. in every word we utter.. in every relationship we make.. let there be God Alone.. let Him decide for you. 

When Peter obeyed the words of Jesus, he rowed in the middle of the sea, he put his net so deep inside and in the breaking of sight of everyone, fishes came into his net. Peter had to call his friends for help. Dear Friends this is how our God works for us. Simon became Peter and his occupation from fishing became Fishers of Men. And on Peter was the Church built. God chose Peter as a leader. The one who was a fisherman, now he is a leader, now he walks with the King. 

Obedience and Dependence on God is what He expected from us. We definitely have dreams with passion and vision to do something for God but it's God alone who approves us. Let us make ourselves available and interactable to God's Will and Plans. The work is of the Lord, so He will do make all things possible. God will never think of breaking our heart. The only question is For How long have we been Breaking the heart of God?

INTROSPECTING TIME:

1. How can I know the plans of God in my life?

2. How will I do God's Mission?

3. Am I breaking God's heart?

4. Am I depending completely on God's Will?

5. Do I over plan things without asking from God?

WORD OF PRAYER:

Dear Lord, forgive us for not listening to you. Forgive us for being disobedient. Forgive us for walking on our own, without walking with you. Forgive us for not getting back to you. Sorry for spoiling our relationship. Sorry for wasting all our precious moments together. Forgive us for all these years for not doing well in the Mission. Teach us Oh Lord! Mend us.. Break us and Form us back into the shape as you wish. Use us again according to your Will and Plans. We surrender ourselves before your feet. Help us our Father. In Jesus's name we ask in Faith.

Amen