Fisherman

By Adeshola Abraham 

John 21:7...... Simon Peter....... girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

'At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he...jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat' (John 21:4-8 NLT).

Peter had to decide whether to leave his fish and go to Jesus or stay behind and enjoy what he had worked hard for. It's a test we all face when we've accomplished our life's objectives, when our nets are full and we have finally 'made it'. Your challenge is, 'Do I stay and guard my blessings or go overboard for the Lord and commit myself fully to him?' Paul refers briefly to his career's success: 'I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin - a real Hebrew...I obeyed the law without fault' (Philippians 3:4-6 NLT). But listen to him now: 'Now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done...counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ' (Philippians 4:7-8 NLT).

Paul realised his true identity wasn't in his accomplishments but in his relationship with Jesus. That night Peter may have felt he was forfeiting everything, yet when he reached the shore, he found Jesus busy - cooking fish! (See John 21:9-13) . Whatever you need, God has it. Whatever you give up, he'll repay many times over.

As you go overboard for the Lord, you will never be disappointed in Jesus name. Amen. 

Good Morning and do have a blessed Midweek.