Day 17 – Issue 20

Be Still Know

Matthew 13:47 NLT

‘Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.’

I’ve only ever been fishing once. On holiday with my family in Cornwall aged 10, my dad took me mackerel fishing one morning. We trailed a line of silver hooks that spun in the water of the boat’s wake, then, hey presto, mackerel simply attached themselves to the hooks and we hauled them on board. I still remember the pungent smell of mackerel cooking that evening.

The nature of fishing is that it is indiscriminate – catching all comers. There is no way to determine the quality of the catch beyond creating nets that allow young fish through. I am aware that having myself been caught by the great Fisherman, I’m not to take my salvation for granted. Faith demands that I scrutinise my life regularly and discern what living by faith means in practice. Assumption can make an ass out of you and me!

It was through the years of accompanying Katey with her MS that I discovered that there was no room for a passive faith. I think before that I’d simply relied upon my faith commitment and my practice of quiet times, church participation and intentional ministry to see me home safe. God revealed that I was to work out my faith through discovering both the best and the worst of me. I had choices to take, all set against how I might eventually show up to God.

Working out my faith proved difficult. I had choices in these difficult times as to what sort of fish I intended to become. Ignore the self-discovery, seek to disguise or hide it, and I knew I’d be one of those fish worth nothing more than to be thrown back into the sea. This was my opportunity to gaze upon my fractured self and seek God’s help to find his way forward.

QUESTION: In what areas of life do you need to work out what it means to follow Jesus?

PRAYER: Lord, give me courage to choose your kingdom in every area of life.