Welcome to the Caruso Daily Devotional , a resource to equip , encourage and challenge you to live a life that shares the good news of Jesus .
A trait most of us share is a tendency to do things our own way and possibly ignore helpful suggestions that might enhance our efforts In business . It's easy to see how this could waste time and produce counterproductive results In business . It's easy to see how this could waste time and produce counterproductive results In other areas of life .
The impact of going our own way has much bigger implications . As people of faith , we believe nothing is more important than sharing the gospel . Too many times , though , we obsess over the process and perfecting the marketing . Yet two New Testament stories give us the perfect blueprint for effectively sharing our faith .
In the first , from the Gospel of Luke , jesus tells a group of fishermen to head out to deep water and lower their nets . They did exactly as he said , even though the night before they had caught nothing . Peter did as he was told , and when they brought up the nets the haul was so great the nets began to break .
In the second fishing miracle from the book of John , jesus appeared to the disciples . After his resurrection . The situation was similar to the first . A previous night of fishing yielded not much .
Calling to them from the shore , jesus told them very specifically to lower their nets over the right side of the boat and they would catch some fish and once again the nets began to break . Have you noticed the common denominator when it comes to sharing the gospel ? This is what Jesus meant , of course , by telling them that he would make them fishers of men .
Fishing was something these men understood very , very well . It is when we are obedient to the Lord that good things happen , and obedience is key . We don't have to be able to speak like Billy Graham Most of us don't have some amazing , unusual gift of talent but we can have an obedient spirit , a willing heart .
It is then we lose our fear of engaging others . We no longer focus on having a little memorized pitch ready . We just believe God . It also becomes obvious that after we obey the call to share the gospel , we're not responsible for the rest of a person's life . To put it away , a fisherman could relate to . We catch them , god cleans them .
Just be willing , be available . If you do that , the results could be identical to those Galilean fishermen 2,000 years ago . God will use the obedient person to do great things . Let's pray , lord . Our efforts for you sometimes fall short . There can be many reasons , but where the problem lies with us , help us to have hearts open to your direction .
It's in you that we find the desires of our hearts . We pray that we are obedient to your calling to share the good news of Jesus Christ with anyone we encounter . In Jesus' name , amen .
Did you know many of the messages featured on the Caruso Daily Devotional ? Jesus Christ , with anyone we encounter . In Jesus' name , amen .