Deadliest Catch

Have you ever thought about how many people play in the ocean every year?  They go to beaches all over the world to swim, surf, lie out on the beach, parasail; some even go out on short-term fishing trips!  The goal is for some fun in the sun; a getaway to be refreshed.  Generally speaking, these kinds of trips to the ocean don’t cost people too much in the sacrifice department other than a little hard earned money.  They don’t get too far away from the shore.  Occasionally there are minor inconveniences during their getaway.  A storm comes blowing through, but they quickly pack their belongings and go back into the safety and security of their room inland.  They get sick on that short-term fishing trip; so they take some medicine and come back to dry land ASAP.

On the flip side of things, think about Alaskan crab fishermen.  There are all kinds of top ten lists of deadliest jobs in the world, and deep sea fishing/crab fishing seems to be on every list.  There is a TV show called the Deadliest Catch that chronicles the stories of some of these Alaskan crab fishermen.  These fishermen go to the ocean, but they have a totally different goal in mind compared to the fun in the sun people.  Their goal is to fish for crab. 

Having a totally different goal brings about a totally different scenario of inconveniences.  They are leaving the comfort of being able to see the shoreline.  They are not able to go back inland every time a storm hits or someone gets hurt.  When ice forms on the ship from the cold weather and water; they get out in it and knock the ice off with sledge hammers.  When there is equipment malfunction; they fix it.  When people on board get injured, they try their best to keep fishing through the pain and discomfort.  They know why they are there and they are part of the team on board that ship.  They all have the same goal; fish for crab and do not let the team down.  There are many sacrifices that come with being an Alaskan crab fisherman that the fun in the sun people will never see.  It is one of the deadliest jobs in the world, but they do it because their goal is to catch crab.

Did you know that Jesus called out to some fishermen and said in Mark 1:17, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”  Jesus was not calling them for the goal of feeling comfortable with very little sacrifice.  He was not calling them to run inland every time an inconvenience came their way.  Jesus was not calling them on just a short-term fishing trip here and there.  Jesus was not calling them to the fun in the sun scenario. 

Jesus’ calling is still going out all over the world today.  Many people think they have answered this call because they go to church or they read their Bible from time to time.  However, this calling of Jesus is not for the fun in the sun scenario for our own internal conveniences with the ultimate goal of self-renewal and self-enjoyment.  Jesus is not concerned with the temperature setting in your sanctuary or that someone took your seat last Sunday at church.  Most of the complaints heard throughout our traditional church goers today are from the fun in the sun people.  They are inconvenienced from personal preferences.

This calling of Jesus is to the deadliest catch where we know there are going to be major obstacles and major inconveniences where personal preferences are thrown overboard when leaving the shoreline.  However, the goal is very clear; we are fishing for people.  This goal cannot be achieved by keeping the shoreline in view and having a fun in the sun mentality.  Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” 

 

If I am going to follow Jesus and fish for people, then there are two things I must do.  First, I can no longer be selfish.  I cannot push for my preferences and my desires.  Following Jesus is not about what I want.  Second, I must put all my own preferences, desires, and ways of doing things on the cross of sacrifice.  I must die from the fun in the sun and follow Jesus away from the comforts and conveniences the shoreline provides.  Jesus is still calling us to fish for people.  The question is, “Are you following him where ever he is leading you no matter the sacrifices?”

Try this song as you pray to God about where he is calling you to go...
I Will Follow You

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,
Chad (Senior Pastor, Henderson General Baptist Church)

www.PastorChadH.Blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/HGBChurch

www.HendersonGeneralBaptistChurch.org

My Prayer for YOU!!!

Here is a video blog with my prayer for you from Ephesians 3:14-21...

Click:
My Prayer for YOU!!!

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,
Chad (Senior Pastor, Henderson General Baptist Church)

www.PastorChadH.Blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/HGBChurch
www.HendersonGeneralBaptistChurch.org

Faith in Action: We need a Savior and Lord!

There was a survey stating the most memorized verse in the Bible was “God helps those who help themselves.”  Well… That is not in the Bible!  As a matter of theology, God’s word tells us the exact opposite.  The most quoted and recognizable scripture is John 3:16 (NLT) where it tells us, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  The Bible tells us that we are in need of a Savior, and that Savior is found in the Good News of Jesus (his life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven).  Often time’s people say they will go to church or give their lives to God “after” they get everything straightened out.  However, that time never seems to come.

 

One of the major issues of trying to help ourselves is that we ultimately want to maintain control of our lives and be the boss.  We will go to church, but when we get things together.  We want to go to heaven, but under our own strength.  We want to be the master of our domain.  Control is fleeting, strength is depleting, and being our own master is defeating.  The Bible not only describes our need of a Savior, but also our need to follow a Lord.  The idea is that we are not in control of our life, no matter how much we try to fool ourselves into thinking that we are.  We need a master that is worthy of following and powerful enough to transform our lives.  Jesus tells the crowd in Luke 9:23 (NLT), “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” 

The crowd was looking for a Savior.  They were looking for someone to provide food, miracles, and fun.  However, not everyone in the crowd was looking to give control of their life to the Lord.  They wanted the benefits, without the commitment.  It is vital for us to see that Jesus is the Savior of the world; to all who ‘believe’ in him.  We cannot help ourselves enough to get in a right relationship with him no matter how hard we try.  Romans 10:9-10 reads, “⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

There is only one true Savior and one true Lord; He is Jesus.  Jesus accepts “everyone” who “believes.”  He accepts you.  He loves you no matter what you have done.  He does not save you though, just to let you stay where you are.  He wants you to follow him completely.  He wants you to rely upon him.  There is no other that is worthy of our total commitment.  The question is, “Are you in the crowd looking only for a Savior; or are you among those fully committed to following Jesus as Lord.”  

 

Try listening to these two songs on your journey through this blog/devotion/day:

You Love Me Anyway  and  You Can Have Me

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad (Senior Pastor, Henderson General Baptist Church)

www.PastorChadH.Blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/HGBChurch

www.HendersonGeneralBaptistChurch.org