Ten Minutes for Teachers
Feb. 4, 2007
Vol. 6, Issue 1

Worship Texts:  Isaiah 6; Psalm 138; Luke 5:1-11

Worship Theme:  Into the Deep Water

Other Texts:   1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 
“Souper Bowl” of Caring:

This Sunday is our annual “Souper Bowl” of Caring Sunday.  Members of our youth group will be ready to receive donations – money or cans of soup – at both services on Sunday.  The soup and funds collected will then be given to a local charity, which the youth groups will determine on Sunday, February 11^th.   

Devotion: 

Imagine yourself at the close of a long working day – not a memorable day, just exhausting and perhaps a little bewildering.  You’ve been doing this job your whole life.  The job has been in the family, as they say, which is also to say it has never seemed all that adventurous to you.  So, there you are at the end of a long working day – ready to shut down your computer or organize your desk before grabbing your coat and heading for the door. 

If you can picture yourself in that mindset, you won’t be too far from where Simon Peter was when he encountered Jesus in Luke, chapter 5.  Peter – ready for nothing more than to recline and relax – finds himself being called upon to do one more thing.  Jesus wants to use Peter’s boat as a moving platform to speak to a large crowd. 

Peter probably thinks to himself, “Suit yourself, Jesus.  But don’t expect me to say much,” as he rows Jesus out away from the beach, leans back and closes his eyes.  And after Jesus gets done teaching, Peter reaches for an oar to help propel the vessel back to land.  Now he is really ready to go home. 

But before he can even lay a finger on the oar, Peter hears Jesus command, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Peter knows there’s an aura surrounding Jesus; the town is starting to buzz with rumors of Jesus’ preaching and teaching.  And, Peter’s mother-in-law certainly hasn’t let Peter forget that Jesus healed her of a fever – right there in Peter’s house! 

But, Peter also knows fishing.  He isn’t so much proud as he is practiced, so when Jesus tells him to put out his nets, Peter can’t help but be offended, which he hides with a sharp exhale and a long stare:  “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.”  Jesus stares right back at Peter, and Peter remembers a similar look while Jesus stood over Peter’s sick mother-in-law.  “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets,” Peter says as he begins to strain against the oar – heading out to sea instead of in to the beach.

And that’s how it happened that Peter found himself ankle-deep in fish, swimming in a living-sea above the water.

…

“Miracles and ministry follow where trust overrides skepticism.”[1]  Yes, that is true.  And I will only add this:  miracles and ministry emerge when we believe ourselves to be so weighed-down, so stuck-in-our-place that we dare not even think about a miracle, let alone doing something good for someone else.  Just when we’ve had enough, God shows up to prove we will never have enough room for all the good he intends to pour into our life.

Something to Chew On:

Peter was simply remaining faithful to his everyday task when Jesus surprised him with a glimpse of glory.  You may feel that your life is flat or ho-hum at this current season – perhaps you even feel that way about your Sunday school class.  That is what makes this story from Luke’s Gospel all the more relevant and powerful.  As you find yourself preparing for Sunday school (or another week of work), try to place yourself in Luke 5:1-11 as Peter.  Imagine his exhaustion and even frustration, but also listen for his tiny ounce of willingness, which the Lord blesses. 

Prayer for the day: