Sunday Rewind

This week we wrapped up our "Just Walk Across the Room" series by looking at how Jesus used an amazing catch to call three commercial fishermen to "Grander Vision Living". You can read the story here.

It made no sense to go back out. It made no sense to do again what they had done all night doing. There’s only one reason Simon agreed: Jesus said to do it. They let down the net, and Jesus created such a miraculous harvest that it left these experienced commercial fishermen in awe. It was so amazign that Simon felt unworthy to even be around Jesus. But Jesus knew there was something special about Simon, James and John. He saw the potential in their lives to do something greater than any of them had imagined.

And that takes us to the decision all of us have to make. From the moment Jesus came to earth, right up to today, he’s been asking the same question: Are you going to throw your one and only life into pursuing small fish, or will you risk tossing your net out in anticipation of catching the human sized ones?

Many people spend their entire life pursuing small fish... things that seem like a big deal at the moment, but that are really only temporary. I'd love to have a big house… with a wrap-around porch… with oversized rocking chairs… on 50 acres… with a pond... and a putting green… multiple garages… filled with new cars, motorcycles, coffee roasting equipment and a boat… and enough money and free time to use them. None of those are bad things. But they are all temporary. They’re all small fish. When I die, they’d all belong to someone else.

Many people spend their one and only life chasing things that end up being small fish. But God invites us to something bigger than ourselves. He invites us to "Grander Vision Living". What’s that? Grander Vision Living is allowing other pursuits to fall away in order to focus on the priority that is nearest to the heart of God: people. God invites us to partner with Him in the most incredible mission imaginable: finding what is lost, restoring what is broken, and reclaiming what is his.

For Simon, James and John, Grander Vision Living meant leaving their boats and nets to follow Jesus. But it doesn’t always mean that. It only requires reflecting God’s heart by leaning toward people. Jesus has thrown the door to God’s Kingdom wide open for everyone. And he says, "You are welcome here. Come on in and join us. Love and acceptance await.” This is the profound message we get to carry to people who are on the other side of the room.

Imagine if every carpenter, bank teller, teacher, homemaker, business person, student, every person among us saw themselves in the people business. Yes, our paycheck comes from our employer, and it’s important for us to give our employers our best effort. But our mission comes from Christ. So we throw our arms wide open, looking for every opportunity to give away the single greatest gift, an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for their lives.

What are you spending your life pursuing? Maybe you've been fishing for paltry perch your entire life. Today you can switch gears. You can head toward landing the biggest fish of all... a person's soul.