Luke 5:4-11 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

John 21:4-8 They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

Matthew 17:27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Many times like the disciples we fish all night with no results. We toil and labor in exhaustion, and we don’t catch a single fish. That can apply to both our spiritual and physical endeavors. Many times the Lord waits for us to completely exhaust our efforts so we are broken enough to obey His word. When we come to the end of ourselves and fish God’s way the catch overflows with abundance!

Maybe you need spiritual, and natural provision today. Stop laboring in your own strength and go fish God’s way! He will tell you where to cast the net!

1 Peter 2:5 – “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 2:20-22 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Genesis 11:3 “Then they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.”

There are two temples being built. One made of living stones carved by the hand of God, and another made of bricks by the hand of men. Babylon is built with bricks, while God’s temple is being built with living stones. There are many lessons in this, but the contrast of material speaks volumes in our spiritual walks.

In God’s holy temple there are living stones which are each uniquely designed with a special purpose. Each stone is completely different. Man had no involvement in the creation of these stones, and each one is being knitted together right where they need to be by God. They are being founded on the chief corner stone, Jesus Christ Himself. This is true unity when differences are embraced. The unity comes from knowing each piece is carved by the hand of God and a vital part of the temple God is creating. Without one of these lively stones, no matter how big or small, the temple is not complete.

Men’s ideas often bring conformity. Every member must look the same like a brick. Men are the ones who sweat and create the brick, often in the same size using a mold. This is Babylon and can be seen all around us in the world and even the church. Babylon seemed to have unity, but it was false. It was built with intentions to make a name for themselves. It came from the heart and mind of men which only leads to confusion.

Just think for a second of the most beautiful garden you have ever seen in the natural. Was this garden filled with thousands of the same flowers? Absolutely not! This garden had flowers of every shape, color and size. A master piece that creates wonder in anyone who would look at it. Each flower uniquely created to give God glory in their own special way.

There is a great difference between unity and conformity. True unity allows room for differences. In fact it embraces differences, as long as it can be established the differences come from the hand of God. The unity of Spirit is always there, but it’s us who leave it. The unity of Spirit can never be created by men, but only entered into as we truly abide in the vine under the headship of Christ. God protects this unity, like He protected the garden of Eden with Cherubim and flaming swords. We only enter through an abiding life with Christ. It is never a doctrine, denomination, apostle, prophet or anything external that can bring us into this marvelous light.

God is building His temple! May we be living stones knitted together in love!

Walk in the Spirit. Those led of Spirit ARE the sons of God.

Luke 18:15-17 “Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Matthew 10:40-42 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

We often view these verses, and many other others, naturally. There is also spiritual meaning which is overlooked. The little ones in these verses speaks of little children in the natural, but also babes in Christ spiritually. How often are we like the disciples. We have an idea of how the Lord should move. Surely we are the ones walking with Him, and most acquainted with His ways. However when things are interrupted and God puts His heart and desire towards His little ones we often resist the idea. Yet the Lord says otherwise, “Let the little children come to me.” Even as mature believers we must maintain a humble heart like a child to enter His kingdom.

We would never rebuke, judge, or look down on a little child in the natural for their immaturity. May it be the same in our spiritual walk. Are there babes in Christ in our midst? Let us give them a refreshing cup of cold water! Receive them in the name of the Lord. Let them disrupt your ideas of how things should be, and let the Lord place His hands on them. You will never lose your reward.

Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them!

Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

During the days of Jesus Christ, it was common place for a market place to sell their product with their version of a “weighing” scale. A good Jew would have always given their customer the benefit of the doubt. They always let others be favored in the transaction. It is what Jesus is referencing in this verse with how we deal with others. Unfortunately we often are the greedy merchant leaning the scale in our favor. We often have planks in our eyes trying to remove a speck in another.

If someone, even a brother or sister, is afflicted with an illness, how often do we say within ourselves well they had it coming because of this or that. However when we are afflicted with an illness, of course its the devil attacking us due to our obedience to God. We may wrongly be accused and spoken falsely of and it is a great offense to us, but when we hear of things spoken of another we often join in casting stones.

We could go through many more examples, but humankind is often like Job’s friends. There is certainly a liberty releasing everything into the hands of God. Even more so actually getting on our knees before Him to see what He sees and thinks. He has first and last word.

May we give grace, mercy and love to all including ourselves. May we weigh the scale in others favor and leave the rest in God’s hands.