Surprised by God

Sue says:

Have you ever had a situation when you were surprised by God? It could be by something as simple as enjoying beautiful fresh flowers in February or as complex as a ministry situation.

Yesterday, Jeff preached from Luke 5 at the Bible college worship service. In it Peter, the brash fisherman, had been out fishing all night without catching anything at all.

When Peter's partners were cleaning up the nets after the night's hard work, Jesus asked Peter to take him a little offshore so he could speak to a crowd of people. Peter obliged, and while the two were out in the boat Jesus asked Peter about the fish he caught.

No fish? Jesus, the seemingly uninstructed one about fishing, told the expert fisherman to put down his net again. Would Peter listen? To humor the carpenter's son, Peter did go out to deep water and put down his net where Jesus showed him.

And the net came back so full of fish that it was close to bursting. Peter had to call in James and John in another boat to have enough space to put the astonishing catch. Still, with both boats full, there was so much weight from the fish that the TWO boats almost sank.

Astounded, Peter realized that he wasn't dealing just with a carpenter's son. This area that Peter knew so much about, Jesus knew incredibly more about. And Jesus made the application that this situation wasn't just about where the fish were, but that men too needed to be apprehended for God's Kingdom. Peter was surprised that God would reach out to him individually through Jesus to enlist his service in catching souls. Surprised by God!

I had a recent encounter like that. In a study with a young gal about Jesus being stronger than sorcery, I was going over some points with her. As the book explained about how to be free from past sins, I was thinking to myself that surely she didn't have any of the problems being listed. But you know what? God knew she needed that section. His Holy Spirit was working in her life to break the bondage of past sin. She enthusiastically prayed and told the Lord she would go home and talk the lesson over with Him and ask for His full forgiveness. And she did.

Surprised by God! It clearly wasn't my Pidgin that convinced her nor any knowledge I had of her past. God's Spirit was at work. What a wonderful surprise to be used of God despite my shortcomings. He's marvelous that way. Praise the Lord for HIS mighty acts in calling both the gal and myself individually from the places we were into deeper relationship with Himself.

Where have you been surprised by God?