And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19 KJV
“Private property”, read the sign by the edge of the pond. “No hunting fishing or trespassing. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!” But just feet away from that sign, a stranger sat, fishing pole in hand on the little dock. As the farmer’s wife approached, she smiled and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I always fish here.” The man responded with a shrug. “I have permission from, Rita”
“Really?” she responded with a quiet chuckle. “Well, I’m Rita. I don’t know you – so get off my land!” This true story which happened just up the road from us, reminded me of today’s verse. Just like that guy, most of us often explain our faith by saying something about God’s love. “Jesus loves you.” Or “God is love.” These phrases roll easily off our lips, but in our daily lives sometimes we are a lot like that guy fishing in someone else’s pond. We know about God’s love, have heard there are some amazing benefits in it, but we have never actually met the owner! Paul tells us that the love of Christ is something that is far beyond our understanding, but the good news is that God wants us to experience it. He has seen us fishing in His pond, has come down to talk with us, but unlike our neighbor, He didn’t come to throw us off His land. God came to earth as a man, so that we could meet Him, and so that His love could be lived out in ordinary circumstances of our lives. He is not only here to throw us off the property, but rather to give us a fishing license if we will put our faith in Him. We might be trespassing on His property, but He isn’t looking to prosecute us to the fullest extent of the law. Instead, God is fishing for our hearts, and He invites us to come to know Him today!
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Amen, Pete! I love this story (I chuckled) and the truth of God fishing for our hearts! I met Jesus as a young girl, Pete. I knew him. But I had YET to experience his true love. I’m sad that a lot of people might “know” God and not have a direct and personal experience of his lov! Jesus came to lead us back to Love! I’ve been reading a book by David Benner titled, Surrender to Love. On page 30 he writes, “A.W. Tozer notes that most of us who call ourselves Christians do so on teh basis of belief more than experience.” If God IS love he can’t be TRULY known apart from love. I don’t want to know God from a distance, Pete. The surrendering to his love has been the greatest part of my life. I tear up just thinking of his love! I pray my family and friends will all surrender to this love (and have the best fishing experience ever!). Thank you, Pastor Pete, for being a constant source of God’s truth, wisdom, and encouragement! God bless you and yours!
Thanks for reading and adding your perspective Karla.
It’s my blessing to read, Pastor Pete!
Hmmm. I’d like to visit Rita and ask her permission to fish in her land. Well, I guess accepting Jesus and having a relationship with him makes us fishers of men. 😊🙏🏾
Amen!
I think several of my blogger friends saw my blog on my “fishing expedition” on Wednesday last and are horning in on the theme!😂
❤️&🙏, c.a.
Hey, if you go fishing with me, you might need to pray for a miracle!
Amen
This story is getting put in my archive. Would like to use it as a sermon example sometime.
True stories are always the best!
Good analogy, Pete. (I bet Jesus will join us to fish for men, too. 😉 )
I bet Jesus always does! Paul told us that even when some preach Jesus with wrong motives, he was still happy because Christ was being magnified. (see Philippians 1)
“…rather to give us a fishing license if we will put our faith in Him.” -Love what you said there.
…and He’s good about keeping His catch rather than throwing em back….plus He’s given us a similar job to do….”Fish for men!”
May we be faithful in this!!
Great post!!
Pastor Pete! My husband shared this with me and I really enjoyed it. I love that Rita wasn’t angry, just truthful. The analogy is beautiful and extremely fitting for there is a vast difference between knowing of God and being known fully. I love how God’s mercy calls us to admit our “trespasses” and become not only forgiven for them, but a member of the family, a child of God, with all the privileges pertaining to that. May the Lord bless and keep you and yours, brother!