Advice on Fishing

        I have done some fishing in my lifetime.  I have read information on fishing, purchased all kinds of "lures" especially red and white ones that float on the top of the water.  I have fished early and fished late and in the end, caught a few.  Andrew, our son, and myself caught over a hundred bass in one year in one pond in Virginia using one bait, a Mann's purple jelly worm.  We were, however, not making a living off of fishing.  We sometimes think that we know everything there is about our profession.  Some people regard themselves as "professionals" that is, they have studied, perhaps got a degree in a certain field, have experience and think they know everything there is to know about what they do to make a living.  Then, God comes along and blows them out of the water.  Such was the case with the Apostle, Peter.  Luke 5:8-9 says, " When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.   For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:"  
       The story before was that they, Peter and his fellow fishermen, had fished all night and caught nothing.  They must have been good at what they did for a living, but they had caught nothing.  Jesus come along and gives them a simple instruction which is almost senseless to the fishermen.  Nevertheless, since it was Jesus making the proposal, they did what Jesus had requested.  Now, there is the key to the story.  Even after doing what they did all night, they were willing to do what Jesus requested.  Their statement at the beginning shows they were reluctant to do it, but because He was the One making the statement, they did it.  That is where we need to make an observation that is applicable to our own lives.  When the LORD makes a request of us, we should do it without hesitation.  It probably will not make sense to us at the time, but it is important for us to be obedient to what He asks us to do.  Jesus is not probably going to tap you on the shoulder to make these request.  He has, however, given us His Word in which we find the instructions for our lives.  We know from Scripture how we should live this life and how we should be sharing our faith with others.  As you go through this day, just remember that God is with you and that you have His guidance in His Book, the Bible.  Praise God today that He is always the Master Fisherman.  Go and be fishers of men yourselves.