Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
John 21:15-17 tells us that love for God is tied to loving and doing His mission. Yesterday, we learned some principles about extreme love for the mission of God from Luke 5:1-11.
Peter and the others didn’t feel like dragging their nets back out to sea. They had fished all night, caught nothing, washed their nets and had shifted their thinking about what was next. It was sleep time, family time or time for something other than fishing. Peter responded to Jesus’ command by calling Him “Master.” Making Christ our Master will provide us with an internal motivation to stay on mission even when we don’t feel like it. Peter said, “Master, since it is You making the request, we will go back out even though we are tired. Loving God’s mission means we go WHEN we don’t feel like going.
It would have been just fine with Peter if Jesus had chosen to pull off His miracle at the shoreline rather than command they go out into deep water. It is easier to catch fish in a net when you are along the shoreline. Everything is just more difficult in the deep. But again, because Jesus was Peter’s Master, Peter was willing to go into the deep. Loving God’s mission means we go WHERE we don’t feel like going.
Finally, loving God’s mission means embracing the challenges God’s miracles will bring.
Peter had more fish to clean and process than they could count. That was going to take a lot of effort and energy. Peter now had nets he not only had to wash, but mend as well. Since the two boats he used had taken in a lot of water during this miraculous catch, there were likely boat repairs to be made. The miracle of God often requires extra work and great sacrifice.
How extreme is your love for the mission of God? Do you have the relationship with Him that when He asks you to do something, your first response is, “Master?” Does your love for the mission compel you to go when you don’t feel like going? Does it compel you to go where you don’t feel like going? Even though God’s miracles often come with challenges and sacrificial price tags are you willing to say, “Bring it on, Lord?”
Do we love Him? We must “feed His sheep” . . . all of them. That’s a lot of meals. That’s a big commitment. That is extreme love.
Let’s get extreme this week! Pack your hairbrushes and start listening for the Spirit’s direction! 🙂
Pastor Melissa
