Would you walk awhile in Simon Peter's shoes with me, Sisters?
If you read a bit more of his journey in your own journaling Bible, you'll know that Simon Peter has left his fishing nets and the only life he's ever known to follow Jesus. (Matthew 4) He's seen lepers healed and storms calmed (Matthew 8), a despised tax collector repent and be welcomed into his new circle of friends, and two certifiably blind men regain their sight (Matthew 9). He's watched as our Lord has fed five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14), and later, another four thousand with equally meager offerings.
He's walked on water, and faltered, only to be rescued by His beloved. (Matthew 14)
Simon Peter has even found the courage to declare Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16) and watched as his Lord is transfigured on a mountaintop. (Matthew 17)
So when the Lord asks Him to go fishing to find money to pay the shekel tax, we're left wondering, did he really do it?
The Gospel, as it turns out, doesn't say. I have no more of an idea than you if Simon Peter actually tossed that hook in and pulled up a fish with a shekel in its mouth.
But really, it doesn't matter. The larger question for us today is: Would we go fishing as Simon Peter was told to do? Do we trust Him to meet every need in our lives . . . next month's mortgage payment, hubby's job search, our kid's worrisome doctors' visit, the big exam next week, our struggle to find our vocation, and on and on?
Would we go fishing as Simon Peter was told to do?Click to tweet
Would you have gone fishing to look for that shekel? And will you do it today?
Karen Schultz hails from the Land of 10,000 lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. As a doula, lactation educator, and FertilityCare Practitioner, she finds joy in helping women to embrace the gift of their bodies. Downtime is found in quiet adoration chapels, farmers markets and gardens, listening to bluegrass music, and embracing the diversity of Minnesota’s seasons. You can find out more about her here.