Fishing – Little Pole, Big Fish – Deuteronomy 5:29
Fishing. It’s a national past time for many folks, a relaxing getaway and a chance to think of absolutely nothing as you stare out across the water. Whether you are fishing in salt or freshwater, the goal is the same – catch something – anything besides rocks. Some days are a bust while others are rejuvenating. There’s something about the fight from an unknown underwater predator that gets the adrenaline going.
Memories from years ago
I remember fishing underneath a bridge in Florida one sunny afternoon twenty years ago. My husband owned a small rod and reel combo that he loved to fish with. He called it his lucky strike rod. It weighed very little and proved to be a wicked tool in his arsenal. Its size was deceitful and no match for big fish.
My rod was having issues that day, so he let me borrow this special rod and reel combo. What an honor to hold his rod and reel. I knew for him, this was trusting me with his prized possession. I also knew this rod had great potential to catch fish. In my mind, I was confident I would bring in a fish my husband would be proud of.
On this particular day, we were fishing down near the water’s edge under the bridge. I tossed my bait underneath the bridge in hopes of catching amberjack or a sheep’s head. These fish like to hang out under bridges, and even if they weren’t hanging out, indeed something would swim by and see their lunch on a hook.
Out of nowhere, a fish hit my line and took off. The rod sang as I pulled back and started reeling it in. She sang some more, and I pulled in. She took off again, and with a big jerk of the line, the pole came out of my hand and landed in the salty water below. Before I could reach for the pole, the fish started pulling my husband’s prized rod under the salty water. After a short oops and some other choice words from my mouth, I ran after it, grabbing the end of the pole before it was lost forever.
I may have saved the pole, but…
It was too late. My husband’s prized rod and reel had fallen into the salty water and, according to him, had been ruined forever. In my husband’s mind, once the reel hit the salt water, it was destroyed forever. Needless to say, he wasn’t thrilled with me. I still caught a nice fish, a big amberjack. Nonetheless, I thought that would make my husband smile, but the catch didn’t matter anymore.
What’s interesting is I caught a big fish on the smallest rod and reel combo I had ever fished with. It proved I didn’t need a big rod and reel to catch fish.
What does this have to do with the price of tea?
It proves you don’t have to know it all or have the biggest and best. It’s the same with knowing Jesus. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with having the biggest and best, but my point is that we can be small, tall, big, short, poor, strong, or weak and still have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Moreover, we don’t have to know it all to know Jesus and have a relationship with him. We have to want to.
There’s a verse in Deuteronomy 5:29 that says, “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever.”
My footnote says, “God told Moses that he wanted the people to incline their hearts to fear him – to want to respect and obey him. There is a difference between doing something because it is required and doing something because we want to.
Therefore, God is not interested in forced religious exercises and rule-keeping. However, He wants our hearts and lives wholly dedicated to Him. If we love Him, obedience will follow.”
So, where do you stand today when it comes to your relationship with Jesus Christ?
Are you working on it?
Are you asking yourself what it would look like?
Maybe you aren’t wondering at all. It’s something to consider today.
Let’s pray.
Lord, thank you for the reminder of my fishing days, especially the day I caught the big amberjack on my husband’s pole. Truth be told, it was a neat little fishing rod, and I was sad to know I had ruined it for him. Lord, it reminds me of my relationship with you. It started small and has grown into something fantastic and fulfilling. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and I pray I don’t ever do anything to ruin it. Love you much Jesus, and it’s in your name I pray all these things, amen.
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