Why, finally? Because the first text of this article mysteriously left us, it's being republished. Thanks to Annick for letting us know. Now, enjoy!
Simon's Challenge
One day Jesus arrived at Lake Gennesaret and used a boat to teach His word. When His teaching was finished, He turned to the owner of the boat, a man named Simon, and said to him, 'Put out into the water and let down your nets for a catch.' It must be said that at the time of His arrival, Simon and company were washing their nets; their work was finished because they had fished all night. Simon told him just that: 'We spent the night there and it didn't yield anything, not a single fish.' But he added something: 'At your word, I will let down the net.' And with that, he launched out, and the catch was miraculous, to the point of almost breaking the net and sinking two boats. Peter, whose job was fishing, recognized the impossibility of what had just happened and was terrified. Jesus reassured him and immediately said to him, 'From now on, you will be a fisher of men.' So here is a natural picture of the supernatural work that awaits Simon and that awaits every child of God.
This story speaks to us in more ways than one. It is the encounter between the natural nature of man and the supernatural nature of God. The power of God, released in a desperate situation, brings about radical changes. There is a parallel between the facts and circumstances of this fishing story and the facts and circumstances surrounding fishing among humans, the kind Jesus asks us to do.
Some points to remember
- A sterile and impossible situation from the start, the lake would have emptied itself of its fish. Thus the ambient disbelief is deafening, morals and values are a thousand miles from the gospel. How can we announce Jesus to such a generation?
- Purely human intervention failed, an entire night spent by professionals doing their job without success. So, how much time was spent talking about Jesus, how many Gospels were distributed, what was the result?
- Simon accepts Jesus' word by faith and leaves in obedience. Thus, the word of God is given, if we let Him do it, He renews it in us constantly. Go and make disciples of the nations has not aged a day; and sometimes it is challenges in the Spirit that we receive from God on this or that project to undertake. We have the choice to remember everything that did not work and remain at the same level or to believe, to declare to the Lord 'At your word I will let down the net', and obey.
- Simon risks failing again, he risks his reputation, he acts despite his fatigue. So everyone can argue the unfavorable climate, what will people think? Even other Christians will laugh in my face, 'yet another burst of evangelism, ha ha!' and mark time, or advance in open water.
- Obedience brought about the miracle. So in every generation when God found men willing to obey against all odds, He acted with power and completely changed the situation.
- The result was spectacular. Thus, the history of the church is marked by revivals, moments when God's power intervened and communities were touched, massive conversions occurred where the catch was abundant and miraculous. Someone went out into the deep and cast the net despite the surrounding disbelief. May it be the same in our generation!
Shalom!
