Miracle or fish

Several years back I spoke about miracles and what is a miracle. I did submit my wife saying “Oh I see you changed the light bulb at last. That’s a miracle” is technically not a miracle. An exaggeration perhaps.

When Jesus heals a person, stops the wind, removes demons and so on and so on? That’s a miracle.

 If you said to me God made the universe, earth, man and everything we can see hear and explore just with His breath then I would say wow! That is beyond a miracle. That is the awesome power of the God of the Universe.

However the gospel today is about a miraculous catch of fish. Personally I do not think that is the miracle in this story.

This is about far more than catching fish.

Today is about a number of fishermen returning to shore having fished all night and caught nothing. Apparently a normal occurrence with fishermen. The last thing they needed, after a night like that, was some son of a carpenter telling them to go out again and drop their nets – again. I can imagine they were tough, hard-working men who fished all day and even into the night when needed. The Bible is silent on what they said but Simon says to Jesus, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

How easy it is to say the miracle in this story is Jesus fulfilling the wishes of Peter and his fishing partners. However this story does not end with their success, making a living or even a miraculous catch of fish. This is where the story starts.

Luke 5 Verse 11 tells me ““When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.”

They walked away. They just upped and left everything behind. They followed Jesus without concern over fish or boats or success or their living.

An interesting point is the long-time Christian is often the one who resists miracles. Many stop expecting miracles or even believe, know or want to ask God.

Consequently we have a generation asking “Where is God? Doesn’t He care?  Does He even exist?”

The gospel today is not about fish or fishing or fishermen. This is about far more than that.

The problems of this world whether personal or global require God – more of God. We desperately need more miracles. I only know of one source where I can find miracles. The source is God.

Remember our relationship and worship of God remains the same on earth as it is in heaven.

The prayer Jesus taught us actually says in so many words. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Jesus is asking us to pray that heaven and earth will be one according to the will of God.

What happens when we decide to reach for this extraordinary life which, as it turns out, God promises?

I don’t know about you but I want to move away from the trappings of this world – the success, the catch of fish, the business and so on. I want to follow Jesus. I want to be one with Jesus.

I want to walk with Jesus where I don’t know what might be coming to me.

I have a deep desire to serve Jesus and build my relationship with Him. Let’s call it a “desire beyond desire” because it touches the deepest parts of my soul. My ‘desire beyond desire’, my longing, leads me away from my current life or ambitions to something I never realised. A desire deep in my soul.

Jesus touched Peter’s deeper desire. And that’s what Jesus offers us. We all have that deeper hunger. All we need to do is look for it – with Jesus and the Holy Spirit powering us. We even sing the song and read in God’s Word  “Ask and it shall be given, Seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened to you.”

Do you wonder how life could ever get any better? Perfect. That’s an invitation to your “desire beyond desire.”

Instead of washing the nets and going home let’s open our eyes, our ears, our hearts to the deeper waters. Let’s make ourselves open and available to this thirst for completeness with God.  It is always before us, right in front of us, and it is never just one thing. It comes to us in a thousand different ways. It is, in essence, a love for God, an obedience to His will and His ways but primarily a longing to be one with Him in a close and loving relationship.

I don’t know what this “desire beyond desire” is for you. Every day something new is revealed to all of us. What’s more we better be ready. That’s not a threat. That’s about the promise of new life, the gift to find our “desire beyond desire.”

How do we find it. We do what God asks of us . . . . . . .

Read the Word of God daily with Him and His guidance.

Pray continuously.

Believe in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They want you to share that power with all believers.

Love God with everything you have, every fibre in your body and love your neighbours.

Consequently my time With Jesus and the Holy Spirit will inspire and lead me to my deepest spiritual goals and peace in His love.

Please do not miss out on these gifts offered so freely.

Do you talk to God? Do you listen and hear what He says to you – or are you concentrating on the trinity of sin? You do know the trinity of sin? Me, myself and I.

Stay spiritually awake and alert, expectant and hopeful. Do not miss the opportunity to be one with God through the Holy Spirit.

I don’t want to miss it and I believe you don’t want to miss out either. So let’s “put out into the deep water” and “let down our nets for the catch.”

What do you say? Shall we all climb aboard?

Our destination?

To find our Desire beyond desire.

Amen.