Don’t Ask How You Are Doing, Tell Them About Jesus

Don’t ask how you are doing, tell them about Jesus.

Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Brenda and I went to Billy Graham’s training center at the Cove in Ashville a few years ago and stayed in the resort to take a week long class on how to deal with people during a National disaster. It was very educational and spiritual all at the same time. We graduated as part of Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team. There is a lot more to it than just a few hours of classroom. They are some of the first on the scene in disasters like, 911 in NY, mud slides in California and things like the flood in New Orleans.

The one lesson I remembered well from that week long class was to never ask a survivor how you doing?

They know how they are. They need help. During a disaster there are also those who wonder around as if they are lost with no direction at all. There are those who hit the ground running and quickly put their lives back together. Then there are those who set down and ask themselves…why me? I try to live right.

In our devotion for today Peter obeyed Jesus by saying in effect. Well, we have fished all night and got nothing but I will try what you say Jesus. When Peter did as Christ ask, they caught so many in their net that Peter ask for the help of others in another ship and filled them both so full they thought both were going to sink.

Peter saw the miracle and fell before Jesus and said “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Peter saw his failure as a fisherman, failure as a human before God. Peter saw himself as ship wreaked, saw himself with little faith, a sinner without hope but, God choose him to be fishers of men.

God knows what it takes for each of us to build our faith and trust in Him. We can’t tell others about the goodness of our Lord by telling them how bad they are. Just as you don’t ask a person that has lost everything in a disaster how they are doing. We tell them that God loves them and died for them. Most see themselves as needing help but, it’s hard for some to realize it until a disaster comes into their life.

Most know in their heart how they are doing in life. Those without Jesus know that there is an empty place in their heart that needs to be filled. But, most don’t realize what it takes to fill it.

We should tell others, I know a man that can heal the blind, make a cripple man walk, fill every need of the heart with love, grace and the promise of eternal life. His name is Jesus and He came here to save the world from the disaster of sin. Let’s throw out a safety net to all we can. Let’s tell everyone we see about the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and try to be better fishers of men and women each day.

Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com