Take Up Your Nets

As I was reading the account of Christ calling his disciples from the fisherman by the sea, I was struck by the fact that they were cleaning their nets when he arrived, then after preaching to them he told them to throw them back in.

So that got me thinking (a dangerous pastime, I know): 1- why clean your nets at all? 2- It must have been soooo frustrating having just finished cleaning and then being told to throw it in knowing you'll have to do it all over again. I know how I feel when somebody walks across a floor I just finished mopping, and let me tell you, I am certainly frustrated to say the least. After researching a bit, here's what I found:

1- Cleaning your nets is actually really important for several reasons. All the debris caught in the net, if not cleaned, will rot and stink up your net or else will attract rats which will damage the net. The net itself is fragile and can also rot and break if not properly cared for. Cleaning the nets also reduces drag when pulling in the net the next time it is used as well as reducing the visibility of the net, increasing the likelihood of catching fish. So, overall, pretty important.

2- This was a very tedious and time consuming process, having to go over each part of the net individually and by hand.

This leads me to believe that Peter had even more faith than we give him credit for. Despite the fact they had been fishing all night and hadn't caught anything, he was willing to listen to this stranger and give it another shot. But even more impressive to me is the fact that what Peter heard this man preach during the night not only made him give it a shot, but he was willing to do it despite the fact that it meant so much more work for him, work that he had just finished doing a first time. He trusted this man so much that he was willing to go through the whole arduous, tedious cleaning process on Jesus's word alone. And great things happened.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When we decide to follow Christ, we must, like Peter, realize the work involved. Following Christ isn't easy. It means we'll have to clean our nets again. It means choosing the harder right instead of the easier wrong. It means doing things we have already tried but doing them His way. But if we have faith like Peter and set aside all our own failed efforts and take the chance, we'll find miracles.