And They Straightway Left Their Nets

As Jesus began his ministry, he invited men to follow him. I love the story of Peter and his brethren. They had been out fishing all night and were surely tired and worn out but had returned with nothing for their labor. Cleaning their nets for another day, Jesus came and first asked if he could sit in the boat a little off the shore and teach the people who had thronged to see him. After he was done preaching, he turned to Peter, telling him to launch out again and drop his nets. I'm sure Peter wondered what the son of a carpenter could tell him about fishing. By all accounts Peter was very successful in his trade, owning two ships that he governed. Sighing, he gathered his men, put the freshly cleaned nets back in the ship and obeyed. Of course, we know that when they were let down, they were immediately filled to the point of breaking and required the assistance of all they could find. Realizing he was blessed beyond the measure of his faith, Peter cried out, "I am a sinful man." Jesus then told him that from henceforth they would be fishers of men, and "they straightway left their nets."

I am grateful to know men and women who like the ancient apostles have willingly given up all that they have to follow the Lord. I, like Peter, feel that I have been blessed beyond measure. I have been thinking of what nets I have in my life that keep me from being the disciple that Jesus would have me be. Let me share two thoughts that I have had, taken from outstanding talks given at my church this Sunday.

The first is the net of forgiveness. A woman in my congregation who has felt betrayed by her father has battled with her emotions and the ability to forgive him. By all accounts his actions are deplorable and worthy of condemnation. She spoke of her struggle to reach out to the Savior and through his atonement, forgive him. In a very powerful way, she taught me of His ability to take away our pains, even when caused by someone else. Not only pain, he takes away our bitterness and rage. Her forgiveness does not mean that she says, "it's OK, I forgive you." It is not OK, but she can feel remorse for his actions without letting it affect her ability to love the man. She showed us one way that we can truly leave our nets and follow Him.

The second net is that of consecration. Being the day before Valentine's day our next speaker spoke of the relationship that a husband has with his wife. Using Paul's text from the fifth chapter of Ephesians, he reminded us that our relationship with our spouse should be the same as Jesus' relationship with us, the church. He gave all for us. In our church we are asked to live the law of consecration in our families. The law of consecration is to give all our possessions to the church, as in the days of Peter after the Pentecost when the saints "had all things in common." Though we are not yet asked to do that, we are aked to have all things in common in our families. It is not a "50/50" relationship. If we both give 100% of each other to the cause, we'll get much more in return. As such, the nets of our material goods will bind us together instead of creating dividing boundaries between us. It left me thinking of how I can more fully give of myself to my wife. My material possessions don't bother me at all, they have long since been "ours" rather than "mine" and "hers." My heart and desires I pledge to her but I can do better... and I will.