Cast Nets Right: Feed My Sheep!

John 21:15-19


Six of the disciples, professional fishermen, are skunked with empty nets at the end of an all night fish outing as they bring their boat toward shore early in the morning. Perhaps the rising sun remains below the horizon, providing only a dim hue in the early morning sky.

A bystander along the shore about 100 yards away, whom the disciples are unable to distinguish, projects his voice, “Haven’t you any fish?” Upon confirmation of their lack of success, the bystander promises success of catching fish by lowering their net to the right side of the boat.

What is your reaction after a full day in your profession, operating in your area of expertise, and lacking any productivity and some bystander promises success for you with one additional attempt to the right side? Do you respond in faith with action? Do you laugh? Do you explain and justify to the bystander all the reasons why “casting your net” one last time is ridiculous.

The disciples obeyed, 153 large fish are in their net, the net tears from overload. One of the disciples NOW recognizes Jesus.

How often do our full nets preclude our recognizing Jesus in our life? Obedience to the commanding voice, while lacking certainty of whom the voice belongs, produces their full nets. Does this strongly resemble faith? They lower their nets to the right, in obedience to a commanding bystander in faith.

Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit reside in the hearts of all who believe and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Are we obedient, in faith, to commands of bystanders in lowering our “nets” on the right side for increased yields?

Discernment is significant in calibrating our heart, mind and ears to the voice of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Their voice and message is comforting in congruency with scripture and convicting when we lack congruency. The right hand signifies righteousness, the side of the sheep. Beware of bystanders guiding you to the left, the side of goats.

The Bible clearly states Faith pleases God; this helps explain why Christ probably avoids identifying Himself before the command. Jesus provides other examples of those failing to respond in faith, missing their opportunity for His Blessings. In fact, the unprepared perish.

The week before Christmas, I called my former teammate Dan. He quickly answered saying, “Rick, I will call you back in 15 minutes.” Our
long-time friendship, enable our voices to be instantly recognized by one
another. Additionally, his quick, concise response correlated with his communication style. This quickly verified my dialing the correct
number.

Later in the week, I visited with my life-long friend and Cousin Kent. Once again, a life time of communication enable instant verification and recognition of tonality, style and message.

The greater amount of time you spend communicating with Jesus
Christ and the Holy Spirit, the more enhanced is your recognition of His
tonality, style and message in your heart and mind. Instinctively, you will recognize, obey and reap the resulting great yields.

The Bible says the we reap what sow; and if we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly. This hold true of our harvest from investing our time in knowing His voice.

What great Yields await you upon hearing, obeying and responding to a bystander, who you later learn is Jesus?

After the BIG catch, and with the recognition of Jesus, Peter bails out of the boat to run toward Jesus who stands by a camp fire with fish and bread. During breakfast Jesus engages Simon Peter with repeated, pointed questions:

Jesus: “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

Simon Peter: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus: “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus: Simon, son of John, do you truly love?”

Simon Peter: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus: “Take care of my sheep.”

Jesus: Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Simon Peter (with hurt feelings) “Lord, you know all things;
you know that I love you.”

Jesus: “Feed my Sheep”

This past week the Lord has spoken to my heart regarding the completion of the book proposal project.

“Rick, do you love me?” Yes, I do Lord! “Feed my Sheep.”

Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit residing in me, remind this book project is about serving God and feeding His sheep.

Additionally, the Lord has directed me in another matter of Faith; “Rick, do you love me?” Yes, I do Lord! “Take care of my sheep, feed my sheep.” Often times caring for and feeding HIS sheep requires BOLD FAITH!

Responding BOLDLY in FAITH is enhanced when we are continually communicating with our Lord, becoming increasingly familiar with
His voice in our life.

The Lord Blesses us with amazing, net tearing, catches of prosperity. This prosperity may be spiritual, emotional, recreational, financial, physical; all the aforementioned or any combination. When Blessed, respond in your Love of Christ by feeding His lambs, caring for His sheep, and feeding his Sheep.

The required FAITH may challenge or exceed your comfort zone, as my dad said in our last meaningful conversation, “Always Trust God,
remember that son, Trust God Always.” This correlates with Proverbs 3:3-5.

Trust God!

Respond with Obedience and Faith!

Love Christ!

Feed His Sheep!

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!


Rick E. Meyer
The Life and Soul Agronomist
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com