There’s nothing more calming than the gentle lapping of water brushing up against a sandy shoreline. It’s soothing. Serene.
The fishermen would have been at peace as they listened to the profound voice of a mysterious rabbi, teaching the gathering crowd as they rocked gently offshore in their fishing boat. As they hung on every word, the rabbi turned to the fishermen and made a startling command: “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
The men bristled at the idea. Rabbis taught the ways of God, but could they really tell fishermen how to fish? It felt invasive. Personal. What sort of authority did this rabbi possess? Yet something about him compelled them to obey.
And everything changed.
The waters splashed with excitement as the fishermen hauled in too many fish for their small boat. As they motioned for their partners to come and help, it was then that they probably realized a greater truth about the mysterious rabbi: The miraculous catch wasn’t because the rabbi knew how to fish. It was because he knew them.
“And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11).
The stories, devotionals, and ministry highlights on this blog are written about that place – where people in our church leave everything behind to follow Jesus and make Him known.
The shoreline is a place of surrender, obedience, and adventure. It’s where people are willing to give up all that they’ve ever known and listen to the One who calls their name. It’s not a one-time call. It’s a constant call. The Christian life is the shoreline – where comfort and conceit forever bow to Christ.
We pray that the articles written here would challenge, encourage, and equip you to leave your boats and follow Jesus too.