1 Thessalonians 4: 1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
Do so more and more. Don’t just live your life, continue to improve your life. I learned to fly fish over the New Year holiday. Or should I say I started learning how to fly fish. There is quite a bit to the sport come to find out. As I waded out for the first time, and threw out the first couple of casts, I could not help but notice the peace, the serenity that comes from being out “amongst them” as a buddy of mine would say. As I looked over my shoulder I saw all of the people lining the bridge lines sunk in the water, just waiting for something to happen. I could not help but think that fishing is a lot like Christianity. I was standing immersed in the stream, searching out the best spot, picking out the fly, working to make each cast lifelike, and when that first trout hit, it was all worth it. That is what Paul was telling the Thessalonians, don’t just stand on the bridge and fish for the Lord, get out amongst Him! Sure you will catch fish on the bridge, but the wait can be long and tedious. There you sit, line sunk just waiting for a fish to swim by. It is how a lot of people approach their spiritual life. They are out fishing for God, but they are waiting on Him to do the work. They are waiting on Him to swim by and bless their life. There is nothing wrong with bridge fishing, it gets the job done, however I urge you all to go pick up some spiritual fly gear. Don’t be content to wait for God to come to you, go out and find Him. Yes it is more work, the rocks are slippery, the water is cold, and your line might get tangled up a time or two, but when you find the spot….the spot no one on the bridge can get to, you find that the Lord is immersed in your life, and yours is immersed in the Lord’s. The strikes are sweeter, the fish are bigger, and all of the work that you put in is quickly forgotten. Yes, the Lord blesses the bridge fisherman, and the fly fisherman the same, but it is the fly fisherman who will find the Lord more often, not because of more love, not because of more favor, but because when you seek you will find, when you knock the door will be open, when you ask, it will be given. Get off the bridge this year, wade into the waters of the Lord. Don’t just live your life to please God, but live it immersed in God. I can promise you this, you will catch bigger fish when you take your fishing to the next level, and fly fishing is the top level. You have to think like a fish, you have to go where the fish are, and you have to work to make that fly come to life. Just the same you will find the Lord a lot more often if you invest the time, energy, and effort to get out there and follow Him. I guess in fishing and in life, you just have to get out there amongst them.
God Bless,
Brian Thetford
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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com
www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com
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