Back in the mid-1990s while living in Tokyo, I drank something that I thought would never catch on in the US. I had iced coffee– the Japanese made a slight shift in product marketing selling cold coffee! It took Americans about a decade later to appreciate it, thanks to Starbucks, and Iced Coffee is now a staple beverage with nearly 25% of US consumers drinking it today.
“When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”” — Luke 5: 4-8
Simon was a businessman who made his living catching fish. After a frustrating night of not catching anything, he releases his crew and he himself is just finishing washing his equipment when Jesus tells him to do something that he believes won’t work– to throw down his net for a catch in the middle of the day! Can you imagine Simon’s thoughts– “Hey I grew up on this lake. I know this lake. The daytime is not the time to fish. I’m not catching anything in mid day. This is a waste of my time”. Simon was anticipating failure and was waiting to say I told you so but when he launched his net, the outcome was unbelievable– he nearly sunk under the weight of what he caught! One word from Jesus and he reaped an all time record catch. Simon had to call his partners to help him handle the catch. This was a haul of a lifetime!
Like tweaking hot coffee and discovering a billion dollar market in Iced Coffee, I often find a slight shift in strategy at the right time can turn everything around including my sinful heart.
- “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it”. — Luke 18:17
- “For when I am weak, then I am strong”. — 2 Cor 12 :10
- Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”. — Matt 19:26
It seems like most times Jesus uses pain to get our attention but here he uses provision as a way for Simon Peter to see his sinful heart (v8). I find that God often sits in that other reality whose values, actions and reactions are not like mine because he is already in my tomorrow knowing what I need today.
God often hides provision in plain sight. Innovating ideas are within an arms reach. Can a “zag” instead of a “zig” be the catalytic shift in your professional or spiritual life that can help you see something differently that has already been right in front of you?
Reflection |
What are the slight shifts in your business or life that He wants you to make?
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