Fish Net and New Wine

Before the resurrection (Luke 5:4-5, KJV)
     at Jesus' call of the disciples
         -- they had fished all night and didn't catch anything
         --Jesus said to let down the net
         --caught so many fish, the net broke

After the resurrection (John 21:6-8)
         --fished all night and didn't catch anything
         --Jesus said to cast the net on the right side
         --caught many big fish, but the net didn't break

These stories remind me of the parable of the new wine in old bottles (Matthew 9:16-17).
The new wine answers to the Holy Spirit working in the men that are being fished for, but the net, just like the old covenant, just isn't sufficient to save men.  After the resurrection, the disciples are able to save fish (men) because the net (new covenant) doesn't break.

Each time, they obeyed Jesus even though it looked like a waste of time.  Jesus is able to use Christians to be fishers of men if they obey Him.

Believing in Your Ability

  

Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of the servants and the talents that the employer gave them.  The one that got 5 talents and the one that got 2 talents doubled their money for the employer. The person that only got one talent dug a hole and buried his talent until the employer got back.

I always had a hard time understanding why the man with the one talent hid the talent because the ruler was a hard man.

Apparently the one talent man didn't want the responsibility.  He may have assumed the ruler wouldn't be satisfied no matter what he did?  Why was he afraid?

He may have been like me and assumed that that way he would get out of suffering.  God trains and tests us, just like the men with the talents.  My problem is worrying about what the test is that God will give me, whether he will give me the worst possible situations:  losing a home, a car accident that makes me a paraplegic, or losing a child.  This attitude is wrong.  It shows a lack of trust.  Just as the man with one talent wasn't trusting his ruler's belief in his own ability, so I have a problem believing in my ability and God's mercy.

I need to remember that God will not let us be tempted beyond our ability.  Jesus was tempted in every way we were, so He knows what we are going through. He is the one to come to find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4: 15-16)

Comfort Word Study, Part 2

According to 1 Corinthians 14:31, prophesy is for learning and comfort.  Learning God's word reminds us that just speaking God's promises bring comfort.  We often think of comfort as in comforting a family that has lost a loved one.  But it is for more than that.  When a job offer falls through or someone in the family has hurt a person's feelings, it is important we know how to comfort them too. Remind that person or family of God's blessings to their loved one, that God has a plan for our life to the person looking for a job, and remind the hurt one that forgiveness brings its own comfort and hope for the future.

God has commands for us concerning comfort.  1 Thes 4:16-18 says we should comfort each other with words about Jesus' return and that we will ever be with the Lord. 1 Thes 5:14 says (among other commands) to "comfort the feeble minded".  When you are hurting, it is hard to think straight.  I would expect the feeble minded to be confused and forgetful.  You can say verses that they would not be able to say themselves.

It is also good to get together to comfort each other, that "all may be comforted." (1 Thes 5:11). We need to remember Isa 61:3 where God exchanges oil of joy for mourning, beauty for ashes, and garments of praise for heaviness.

Comfort can be refused.  The comforters that King David sent were treated badly.  The Psalmist says in Psalms 77:2, "my soul refused to be comforted. " Jeremiah 31:15 says Rachel refused to be comforted for her children who died. It is up to the person to accept comforting.

2 Corinthian 1:3 says God is the "the God of all comfort" and don't forget that Jesus has sent the Comforter after he arose. That is why we can comfort those around us in the same way God has comforted us.   I like 94:19 which says "my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul."  I think those "comforts" are Bible verses.  If you have them memorized, they will be there ready to be used.

Comfort Word Study

This is a word study about the word "comfort".  I find when I do study with a KJV Bible and a concordance, that I find different ways of looking at the same thing and that the Bible has it worded a little different each time.

When I start a word study, I go to the dictionary first.  I used Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, G & C Merriam Co., Springfield, MO, 1965.  I find that if I use a dictionary this old, it has more of the old terms and definitions from the Bible.

"Comfort" can be a noun (a thing) or a verb (action).  As a noun it can be a strengthening aid with synonyms of assistance and support.  It can be consolation in trouble or worry and a state of feeling relief or encouragement.  As a verb, it means to give strength and hope, to ease grief or trouble and to make the sense of loss less severe or less painful.

Several verses were about God's attitude toward us.  They are encouraging to me in that respect.

Psalms 23:4 "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me".  The Psalmist sees these as providing for his physical needs.  I think it could also indicate spiritual needs.  Heb 12:8 says that if we aren't chastened, we are bastards rather than sons.  The chastening yields "the peaceable fruit of righteousness". (Hebrews 12:11).  It should be comforting to be kept on the right path.

Ps 119:76 "Let, I pray Thee, they merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant."  When you show someone comfort, it also shows kindness.  Coming from God it also becomes merciful, because we are sinners and do not deserve it.

Isaiah 51:12 "I, even I, am He that comforts you."We are reminded that God is the original source of comforting.  This is backed up by 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 where Paul describes the "God of all comfort" and who comforts us in all our tribulation".

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 God is source of all comfort.  Comfort originates with God toward us in tribulation.  We are to pass on the comfort we have received to others, probably including Bible verses.

2 Corinthians 7:6-7, God comforts those that are cast down. Paul was comforted by the coming of Titus and with the consolation he was comforted.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 God comforts us like a father comforts his children.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 We are to comfort our hearts with God's everlasting consolation and good hope.  Jesus establishes us in every good word and work.

Making Good Decisions

My cats seem to have trouble making decisions.  When I open the door for them to go out, they stall, worried about what is out there.  When I put a treat for them, they smell and lick it before eating.  And where they knead their claws is not where they necessarily sleep.  If a new person comes or the vacuum cleaner is too noisy, the decision is easy: run and hide.

Decisions I make seem to fall into those same categories: put off making the decision, get some more information to make the decision on or try to get out of making any decision at all.  Some are spiritual decisions.  If I tithe, will I have enough money for the coming week?  If I tell my co-worker about Jesus, will he take it wrong and be pushed harder away from God?

Maybe the cats have the right idea, just in the wrong order.  We should run to God and trust in the shelter of His wings.  Then for the decision get more information and take time to consider the common sense aspects of the situation. When we run to God first for help and advice, we can trust that whatever decision we make will be controlled by God.

God Likes Details

Doing a knitted lace shawl for the first time was a challenge.  The instructions were in chart form when I was used to written instructions.  I knew what the stitch symbols on the chart meant.

I started off good, but the stitch count was wrong.  I couldn't find where I was getting off and I kept losing my place on the chart.  I ripped it out time and time again. I was getting more and more frustrated.  I finally gave up and asked God for help. Immediately my eyes quit jumping around and I could keep my place in the row.

The next night, I started having the same problem again, jumpy eyes and wrong stitch count. I don't know how long I worked on it, but I finally asked God for help.  He pointed out to me how much time I had spent on the shawl as compared to how much time I spent in the Bible with Him. I was ashamed and asked for forgiveness and eventually completed the shawl.

I was thinking it was too small and not urgent to ask God for help.  We are to acknowledge Him in all things (Prov 3:6, KJV). And if He has our hairs numbered, you know He likes details. We need to come to Him daily and not leave Him as the last resort.

What Can You Do for God

What can you do for a God who owns cattle on a thousand hills and would not tell you if He was hungry? (Ps 50:10,12)  Where do you begin?  Pleasing Him looks like a daunting task.

Obeying the ten commandments is a good place to start, but it cannot take the place of salvation through Jesus.  The Israelites could not keep them, and neither can we.  Do not confuse salvation by works with obeying.

There are things we can do that will affect us and our attitudes.

One is sacrifice.  Jesus said "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matt 16:24, KJV).  It starts with small sacrifices: don't add sugar to your cereal, and start the day with Bible reading before you begin the work for the day.  Taking up the cross and follow me require more effort.  Go against your attitude and say nice things to the co-worker you can't stand and follow Jesus example to pray for them.

Giving thanksgiving will take a cut into your pride, but God appreciates it.  Doing so brings blessings. The tenth leper that was healed gave thanks, and Jesus told him that "your faith has made thee whole."(Luke 17:12-19, KJV)

Ps 50:13 says "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, the LORD be magnified." (KJV)  What does a magnifier do?  It makes things look bigger and where you can appreciate it more. To magnify the Lord, we can tell others about what God has done for us.  We will be shining a light on God for who He is and what He can do.  It will help people make God seem bigger and appreciate Him more.

Doing these things will bring you into a closer relationship to God.  As you go along, it will become easier and easier to do.  Then you can declare with John that His commandments are not grievous
(I John 5:3, KJV).