Fishing Fun

Even though I have been talking with you about Jesus and fish all week, truth be told, I am not much of a fisherman. I have had the privilege of fishing up in Alaska a few times but when a professional guide drives the boat, baits your hook, lets out the line, snags the fish and then hands you the rod to reel it in...I’m not sure that qualifies as actually fishing!

Let me share with you a short fish story from the biblical book of Matthew that includes real fishing!

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”  “From others,” Peter answered.  “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:24-27, NIV) 

friend, this is what struck me from the story. I love this line, that happens before Peter was even able to ask his question, “Jesus was the first to speak”. My friend, how many times do I allow Jesus to speak first? I often come with my list of needs and wants and I never even pause. I wonder how different my encounters with Jesus would be if I simply came to listen and allow Him to speak first?

I also noticed that Jesus tells Peter to go and “throw out his line.”  Peter was a commercial fisherman. They used nets, not lines! Do you get it? Peter was being told to go and do some recreational fishing. Jesus was telling Peter to go and have some fun!  Peter fished all the time, but Jesus knew that Peter needed to have a seat, have some fun and then experience a miracle!

My friend, when was the last time you had some fun? Have you ever thought that having fun was a way to experience a miracle? We often think that finding a miracle is serious business, and sometimes it is, but I love that Jesus does a miracle while His friend is enjoying himself. Jesus loves both joy and miracles!

friend, Jesus is teaching me to slow down, let Him speak, have some fun, and expect a miracle. I hope that what He is teaching me is an encouragement to you today.  Let’s pray...

Lord, slow us down so we can let You speak to our hearts. Help us to expect the unexpected and experience joy as we continue to wait for Your miracles. God, if You can put a coin in a fish’s mouth, You can certainly make a miracle for us. Keep us believing and expecting today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Never forget my friend...

You are a miracle!