A Safe Bet

How often in life do you experience something that exceeds your expectations?  I have lots of examples of events or purchases that were wonderful, but didn’t exceed my expectations.  I’ve planned and hoped for holidays and vacations; I’ve enjoyed them immensely.  None of them pop to mind when I dwell on the question of whether or not something ever exceeded my expectations.  Does that sound sad?  Are my expectations that low?  Is life just like that? 

In Luke, chapter 5, Jesus exceeded expectations.  The boys had been out fishing and evidently didn’t have a very productive night.  They were hanging out on the shore working on their nets when Jesus asked to borrow one of their boats.  They agreed, and Jesus climbed into the boat, pushed a bit off the shore and preached to a gathering crowd.  When Jesus was finished speaking He suggested that the boys go back out where the water was deeper to fish.  I don’t think Simon Peter was thrilled about the possibility of heading back out.  He tells Jesus that the previous night had been a bust, and he also says, “But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” (Luke 5:5, NLT)

Peter’s expectations were low.  In fact, they were most likely non-existent!  He knew his job, he knew the lake, he knew the best times to head out… He knew how to fish.  He had to have been listening to what Jesus shared with the crowd. Peter must have been impressed with what Jesus had been saying, because he agreed to go along with what Jesus asked. 

I think Peter would’ve been happy with a small catch after not catching anything the night before.  He’d have been excited over a full net.  Jesus went way beyond Peter’s limited expectation.  Luke 5:6&7 says, “And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.” (NLT)  Jesus didn’t provide a good catch.  Jesus didn’t provide a gigantic catch.  Jesus provided an unbelievable, miraculous catch.

I think Peter began with some doubt.  If I were him I would’ve been having all sorts of second-guessing type conversations with Jesus in my head.  Peter didn’t argue with Jesus.  He was upfront about what he thought; they had been out fishing and the fish just weren’t biting.  And then Peter and the boys obeyed. In the little time they had been with Jesus, they were impacted by who He was, they gambled on what Jesus suggested.

Have you been gambling lately? 

Sometimes when Jesus asks us to do something that feels risky or at best really uncomfortable, we tend to discount the idea or ourselves.  We think we’ve tried something like that already.  We don’t see that particular area as God’s area of expertise, and we probably know better.  We’re afraid it will make us appear silly to others for trying.  Or it just seems so pointless because we’ve convinced ourselves it’s not for us or it can’t be done.  All of those thoughts could’ve filtered through Peter’s mind or any one of those fishing boys. 

They took the gamble. They experienced a miracle, right there in their own boat.  So I wonder: is God asking something of me that I am (for whatever reason) discounting?  And I wonder: is God asking something of you that (for whatever reason) you are discounting? 

Later in Peter’s life, he steps out of his boat in an act of obedience.  Perhaps you’ve heard of the idea that we’ve got to get out of the boat! Sometimes, Jesus wants us back in the boat so He can show us how things are really done.  In or out of the boat, it requires obedience and trust.  Jesus is ready to exceed your expectations.  Are you ready to gamble? I’m convinced it’s a safe bet.

Adventure Time!

 

When our children were small I was in charge of adventures.  We took adventures to the zoo and the park and the mall.  Being the Adventure Administrator also meant that I did most of our vacation planning and preparation.  We had a tent trailer that we took out every summer.  My husband and I would select a destination and campsite together; I filled in the rest.  I researched a wide variety of things to do in our selected locale.  I considered the various personalities and interests of our family, aiming to find something that would delight each person.  I created a schedule for each day including meals and snacks.  Tent trailers aren’t known for their abundance of storage and space, but there needed to be room for 4 duffel bags, sleeping bags, blankies, pillows, towels, cooking items, multiple coolers, a selection of board games, brownies or chocolate chip cookies and one of those large plastic containers of Twizzlers. I not only got to plan our grand escapades, I also got to pack for these exploits which was an adventure in itself! As much I loved each excursion we took, I dreamed of going on an adventure where I didn’t have to plan or pack or cook or clean up.

Jesus invited twelve guys on an adventure where there was no planning or packing involved.  When I read in Mark chapter 1 how Peter and Andrew, James and John, just left everything to join Jesus on His adventure I am always stunned.  There was no preparation whatsoever!  They didn’t run home to grab a quick snack.  They didn’t check to make sure everything was locked up before they left. They didn’t do a quick internet search for a place to temporarily call home.  No one seemed to be in charge of meals or evening entertainment. No one put on an extra jacket or stuffed some socks somewhere just in case.

When you read Mark’s account in Mark 1:16-20 it all sounds so random.  Jesus sees some fisherman and says “Hey!  You should come with me. I’ll teach you how to really fish.”  And they go! They leave their boats and their equipment and their families and they follow Jesus.  When you read the account in Luke 5 you realize a bit more happened and yet the result is the same.  Peter, Andrew, James and John were so overwhelmed with who Jesus was they dropped the life they were living and joined him in His life.  From the very beginning of their adventure, Jesus was more important than three things to those four disciples.

First, Jesus was more important to them than their livelihood.  In our modern day culture, one’s career seems to be the epitome of who one is.  We define ourselves by what we do.   We get focused on climbing the ladder to gain importance and greater responsibility.  We seek extra hours or overtime so we can afford that swanky vacation.  We strive to be recognized and seen as impressive in whatever job we do.  Simon, Andrew, James and John basically quit their jobs to follow Jesus.  They didn’t have a clue what life would look like; they didn’t even ask!  They were so compelled by who Jesus was when He said “Follow,” they did.  In the Luke passage we learn that Jesus had just provided a fish catch for the record books.  I find it fascinating that they didn’t ask Jesus to join their fishing crew so that their business could achieve the Best Fishermen award.  Instead, they willingly let go of what provided for them and gave them significance to join Jesus and His mission.

Secondly, Jesus was more important to them than their families.  James and John literally left their dad holding the nets.  We learn later in Mark, chapter 1, that Peter had a mother-in-law, which leads one to conclude he had a wife. There is no mention of Peter running home to confer with his bride or the others in his family.  This is not an excuse for us to abandon our parents, our in-laws or our spouses.  God’s Word makes it clear that family is important (see Ex. 20:12, Eph. 5:25, Ps. 127:3-5) and God is to always come first.  Sometimes that’s difficult.  Do we trust that God knows not only what is best for us individually, but also for each member of our households?  It’s so easy to make our families such a strong priority that we inadvertently put God and His purposes in second place.  We can’t give to missions because Johnnie’s in competitive soccer and Janie wants a new phone.  We can’t participate in a weekend retreat because that would leave our spouse home alone with the children.  We can’t make it to church every Sunday because that’s the only day we have as a family.  Jesus asks us to put Him and His Kingdom first. Always.

Thirdly, Jesus was more important than their responsibilities. Did you notice: they left their stuff!  They left the nets and the boats and the fish and their hired workers.  As a mom, I would be saying, “come back here and put your things away!”  It’s so easy to put Jesus off by telling Him we’ll get around to doing what He asks of us as soon as we finish X Y Z. We all have our to-do lists that seem to control our schedules.  I know there have been many times I’ve thought something along the lines of “I should take that family a meal.” It doesn’t happen because my every day responsibilities take precedence.  I straighten the front room, I fold the laundry and I play with the dog.  I choose to do things that should be done, but could be done later, instead of listening to what Jesus asks of me and choosing to follow His leading. Jesus wants to be first priority in all of our choices.

Jesus wasn’t out to just make their lives better.  Jesus wanted to transform their lives and transform who they were.  My Pastor husband recently preached on this passage in Mark 1 and he mentioned that following a Rabbi meant you wanted to be exactly like him.  It wasn’t a matter of just copying a look or imitating some behaviors.  The goal was to be like the Rabbi in every way possible. 

To be like Jesus, to follow Him in the way He desires, means we give up what we think is significant.  Whether it is our careers, our family with their hopes and dreams, or that things we do that seem so important and necessary in the moment.  I’m not saying we don’t strive to be great at our jobs. I’m not suggesting that you ignore the needs of your family.  I’m not telling you to shirk your responsibilities.  I do believe that Jesus is saying to view those things through the filter of who He is, and what He wants to accomplish in us and through us.  Jesus invites us on an adventure of transformation. Jesus invites us to go with Him, live with Him, hang out with Him every moment of every day. Just think, on this adventure, you don’t have to plan, prepare or pack before you go. You just need to follow.