From the Edges – Morning Devotions – No Options! No Distractions!

From the Edges – Morning Devotions
Pastor Calvin Cook
Push Out Into the Deep – April 25, 2024
Day 4 – No Options – No Distractions
Scripture Focus : Luke 5:8-11 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Flashback 50 years, it is supper time, the family of four is gathering at the table for dinner, for their nightly time as a family to eat and talk and have a meal together. Everything is perfect until young Calvin sees what the main and only course is. Dried Lima Bean stew. “Mom, is there anything else, I don’t like dried lima beans.” “No that is what we are having” replies Mom. “Can I have a chipped ham sandwich” I ask hopefully. The Mom response “No, that is for your Dad’s lunch tomorrow, there is only enough for his sandwiches, eat the dried lima beans or do without.”

There was probably a lot of other conversation back and forth until Dad cleared his throat or looked with Dad eyes and ended it and I reluctantly ate dried lima beans. One of the greatest things that happened in growing up and moving out was I no longer had to be subjected to dried lima bean stew. The greater point is that my Mom and Dad were not monsters in serving dried lima beans with no meal alternative, it was a way of life. Mom knew what she had to work with and did the best with what she had. One of the greatest lessons was learned around that table that speaks to me today from our scripture focus. That is No Options, No Distractions.

In the conversation between Jesus, Simon Peter, the sons of Zebadee, and the others involved in this section of scription was a great holy teaching. I believe this speaks to us through the ages of time, that being No Option, No Distractions.
Have you noticed so far in the focus we have had on these 11 verses that Jesus gave instructions without options –

A little review will help Jesus to Simon “put out to land” (verse 3) “push out into the deep” (vs 4)“let down your nets”( vs 4) “do not be afraid for from now on you will be catching men” (vs10). Notice in these conversations there was no other options even discussed. I am sure the Disciples were apprehensive, skeptical, even frustrated as is exhibited a little later, still yet there was no discussion of options. We don’t see the Disciples saying, “we have other things to do”, “we know what is best for us”, “we don’t need you telling us how to fish” though there was a hint of all of these thoughts the Disciples listened and followed even when there were more than likely other options they embraced the idea of no options! Are we faithful?

There is also a reflection of there being many distractions. Remembering these were skilled commercial fishermen. They lived and breathed for fishing to supply for themselves and their family, but we see the Disciples leaving it all. What did they leave for, a bigger boat, another lake to fish in, retirement, a sporting event, their own desires. No the Disciples left all distractions with no other option but to follow Jesus, to be evangelist, to fish for people.
I confess I still don’t like dried lima beans; I still like options, I still argue with God about what I think is best, I still become distracted, yet in the midst of it all, I am willing to follow. Are you? In the coming weeks you will have that opportunity to answer that question over and over. Until then may we “Push out into the deep” and be expectant of what God wants to do in our life.