Fishermen of Jesus’ time used fishing nets every day. It was the tool of their trade. Every season fishermen repair their fishing nets. This process is very tedious and timeconsuming; but very necessary to catch fish.

Fishermen’s nets break for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the nets break because of the large haul that the fishermen are bringing in. Sometimes the nets break because of sharp objects and rough edges. Sometimes the nets need mending simply because of the general wear and tear of everyday use.

As Christians, we too are much like fishermen using nets. In a sense, every day we cast, let down, and drag our nets to reach the lost for Christ. While reaching out to people, sometimes our nets break. As we go about our daily work, our lives and ministry, our nets get caught, snagged and cut because of misunderstandings, grievances, unkind words, wrong thoughts about who we are, and many other things.

In the New Testament, we see the disciples “washing their nets” and “mending their nets.” As fishermen, they realized that if they were ever going to be prepared to bring in that large haul, they needed their nets ready. As Christians, the same applies to us. It is time for us to mend our nets so that we are ready for His use.

We must mend our nets before we go out fishing; before we go out to labor for the Lord. How? By responding to His call for us to draw near to Him and to spend time with Him.

Jesus said in John 15:5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing”

Often, our work is motivated by the work that needs to be done. We need, rather, to be motivated by His love for us. We do this by spending time with Him; to enjoy Him; to hear what is on His heart. As we do this, we start to see people as He sees them. We start to love what He loves. We start to be concerned about the things that God is concerned about.

As we spend time with Him in His Word, we learn who we are in Christ; soaking in deeply in the knowledge of who He is; as well as what and who we are in Christ. God wants to mend us from lies the “accuser of the brethren” has spoken into our ears about who we are. Father God wants us to begin to see ourselves as He sees us; to remind ourselves daily that we are His daughters and sons.

God doesn’t view us as we view ourselves. He tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

We need to know how to explain the love of the Lord by first experiencing it ourselves. We are burdened by our inability to share. We need to be set free; to mend our nets, and then go fishing. They can spit in our faces, but that doesn’t change that we are His.

Another part of mending the nets is by repairing relationships in our lives that our broken. You may say to me; “I don’t know how!” and “I can’t do that!” I know, but He can! God is preparing and repairing the strands of the nets, making sure that the knots are all tied. The strength of the net depends on the integrity of every strand connected to each other. The net must be strong to hold what He is going to bring to us.

Join me, won’t you, as together me we allow Jesus to mend the nets as we anticipate a great harvest! In Jesus Name, Amen!