March 11, 2026 - Good Moring! It’s Wednesday, March 11
Last Sunday I was guest pianist at a local church. Their brand new pastor preached a sermon featuring a famous story found in John 21. The story occurs a couple of weeks after the Resurrection. Peter and some of the other disciples had returned to their homes in Galilee, and one night they returned to their old profession - they went fishing. They fished all night but caught nothing. Then, as the day dawned, they saw a figure standing on the shore. The man (Jesus) shouted, “Catch anything?”. When they replied that they hadn’t, he gave them some advice - “Try dropping your nets on the other side of the boat!”.
I have been known, at times, to have a tendency to be sarcastic. I’ve learned (the hard way) that this is not always particularly endearing. Oh well. As I listened to that old story last Sunday, I put myself in the disciple’s place and imagined their sarcastic response. Here they were, exhausted after a long, unproductive night of work. And fishing, after all, was their work. It wasn’t just a hobby with them, it was their job. They were highly trained and very experienced. And now this guy, (a carpenter!), is giving them advice. “Thanks so much! We would never have thought of that! Try fishing on the other side of the boat - Great Tip! Thanks again, Carpenter! Why don’t you go make a table!”
I can understand the impulse behind that kind of response. The advice was inherently ridiculous. But the Bible doesn’t say they replied with sarcasm. It tells us that they followed Christ’s advice. And their nets were suddenly filled to overflowing with fish. They obeyed God’s command. And He blessed. Scripture is filled with examples like this. God told Noah to build an ark, before the world had ever seen rain. And the world was saved. He told Joshua and his warriors to put down their weapons and pick up trumpets. And the walls of Jericho fell. He told His followers to turn the other cheek. He told them that the last shall be first. He told you and me to love our enemies.
God’s will can sometimes seem strange. It’s often diametrically opposite of our human instincts. The Bible tells us that God’s ways are not our ways. It tells us not to lean on our own understanding, but to submit to Him. It tells us to trust Him. And it tells us He will bless.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
