Falls Down & Cast Nets #02

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:11.

Have you left everything for Jesus? If not, what are you waiting for? For him to say you can take what you are desperate to hold on to. What does it mean, to leave everything? And why does Jesus ask this of us?

Those are a lot of questions. Ones I didn’t know the answers to until Jesus asked me to follow him. And even when I said yes, I wasn’t sure what would happen next. What does it mean to follow Jesus? And are you?

What does it mean to cast our nets? [“Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4.] When Simon cast his net was he doing so in hope or frustration? Did he think to himself, let me cast this net so this stranger will leave me alone. Or did he hope for an abundant overflow? Simon did it because Jesus asked him to. Not knowing what would happen next.

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5

Yes, he threw in the obvious before submitting to the call, but he still submitted to Jesus’ request. Simon Peter chose to say yes. We all have that choice. God designed us with a deep desire to say yes to him, before ever realizing he is the greatest King of all.

What happens after we say yes?

His mercy falls from heaven and meets our nets. And then our nets break with abundant overflow. God forgives and blesses us. He gives us what we do not deserve. A relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christ Jesus himself.

To follow Christ Jesus.

They left their boats, their only known way of making money. They left what fed their families. They left their wants and desires. Their dreams and ambitions. Family and friends were left. Sin was left. The easy path was left for an unknown road. But they said yes anyway. Because it was God asking them to.

A love built in us to obey him.

March 3, 2022, God asked me to pack up my home and my studio. I didn’t know where I was going next. How I would make money, feed myself, or get to my next destination without a car. Everything but a couple suitcases and my bike were going into storage. While I was packing on a Friday, I had no idea where I was to lay my head that Sunday night. Yet I packed.

I cast my net.

I took my tunic and set out on an unknown road because God asked me to. He asks me to trust him. To go and he will meet me at my stop, to reveal the next step. I cast my net every day in hope. Answering the call on my life, set by Christ himself. No, it’s not easy! But the goodness of the Lord falls down and allows me to say yes.

I cast my net Jesus.

I say yes Jesus

Because I love you Jesus

I say yes to the call

The assignments

The deep waters

Because I know you’re there

Follow me you ask

Today is the day

When I cast my net

Know and pray

You will meet my net

With your Mercy and Grace

My net is yours, Jesus.

Four years after saying yes to Jesus for the first time he asked me to leave my home. To trust he would and will provide a way supernaturally. I knew and know he will. There must be goodness falling from heaven because I’m still living in joy, and peace, and grace. No, I don’t have what the world offers. I have something more. The understanding that God is real.

When we give up what we want for a King that wants us, it feels like we have given up the very thing that gives us life and happiness. Only, the house, the job, the money, the travel, the clothes are not happiness. I gave up all that brought me comfort and through a tough trial I allowed God to take their place. No longer bound to the earth and its possessions. But living free in God’s Grace.

What’s next? I keep casting my net and God keeps meeting me with abundant life. Every ask, every turn, every trial has given me freedom, strength, sanctification, mercy, knowledge of good and evil, and the courage to keep casting.

Say yes to Jesus and stay tuned to his Mercy falling down to meet your nets. [When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:6.]

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:10.

Keep casting brothers and sisters.

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:11.