Influencers Weekly Devotional

Transforming Bubba

by

Rocky Fleming

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. …. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” … And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) I love the sea. I draw a great deal of inspiration from my time of being around the sea, along with catching up on some fresh seafood. As I write this devotional, I do so after having spent some time on a Florida beach. It is winter, so the beach is relatively deserted of tourists, which delights me. There's a reason. It can be cold one day and nice the next. Even so, I love it. I love the food, the “real” locals, the beauty of the sun bouncing its rays off the water, and the sounds of seagulls calling to each other. Can there be a better place to enjoy rest, recovery and recreation? Not for me. Having lived for several years on the Southern Gulf Coast, I am experienced with gigging flounders, running crab traps, speckled trout and redfish fishing. I've camped on barren islands in the Gulf, wade-fished in their surf, had sharks swim through my legs to steal a fish off my hook, and have been boat-wrecked at one time on one of these islands. I've gathered oysters from an inland lagoon at low tide and shucked the oysters for dinner around a campfire while on one of these barrier islands in the Gulf. However, I am only a hobbyist when it comes to living off the sea. However, I think you can understand that I could appreciate what a professional fishermen must do day in and day out to make a living from the sea. It is hard, dangerous work and not something I would want to do for a living. A lot has changed about the industry, the people and the area I once lived in and it makes me sad to see these changes. But, it made quite an impression on me while I lived there. When I lived on the Mississippi Gulf coast back in the 70’s and 80’s, most of the fishermen of that day were 3rd or 4thgeneration European immigrants who settled in the area and became shrimpers, oyster harvesters or worked in the seafood industry in some way. They lived a hard life, and were hardened by their work and the elements they had to overcome in order to make a living. Families were tight-knit in the “Back-Bay” area of Biloxi. Not many outsiders made it into the tight circles formed by these families. If you did, you were special, and when you were accepted, a lifelong bond of friendship was formed. Even so, you knew never to treat one of these men unfair, for “your enemy is my enemy” is a code these close-knit families lived by. I'm probably describing a multitude of other ethnic communities across our nation who live by a similar code. I'm also likely describing a similar code the fishermen, Peter, James, John and Andrew must have lived by before Christ walked into their life. You see, being typical professional fisherman, their's is a culture most other fishermen around the world have lived by for centuries. It helps to understand the culture these guys came from, and especially Peter, to understand how Christ so drastically altered their lives. These men not only left their boats to follow Christ, they also left a way of life, a way of thinking, a way of acting, and the tight-knit, independent code they had lived by all of their lives, along with the comfort of a well-established, predictable culture. It is obvious that there was a compelling reason for these men to take that first step in sojourning with Christ, and then never return to being the men they once were? What could it have been? Let's take Simon Peter for example: If you were to meet one of those good ole boys I spoke of who lived on Back Bay Biloxi, you would likely meet a good representation of Simon the fisherman, before Christ changed him. Our guy would be impatient to offload his catch of the day, so don't expect much conversation, and don't get in his way or you'll hear expletives that will curl your ears and make a Marine D. I. envious. The fact is, he wouldn't talk much anyway even on a good day, except to friends, for the man is bigoted against the outsiders I mentioned. However, his shunning of you wouldn't be about race, for he is an equal opportunity bigot and color doesn't matter. It would be because you didn't grow up on “da Bay,” and unless you are in his tight circle, he has no time for you. Likewise, Simon, the fisherman, was a bigot against outsiders. He hated Gentiles, tax-collectors, Romans and inland mariners with good ideas about fishing. Can you imagine how Simon would react if just any inland carpenter told him how to fish by telling him to go back out to the place he had just left to lower his nets in the deep water? If it had been you or me, he would likely have used us for bait, for it would be what our guy“Bubba from da Bay” would do! Can you imagine how a person with this mindset would react if he had fished all night without making a catch, only to have an outsider tell him how to fish? Man, it would be ugly by the time he unleashed his anger on us. Therefore, Jesus must have made a terrific impression with His sermon in Simon's boat, based on the way he reacted to Christ's suggestion to go back out to the deep water? Simon didn't show anger, although he did show doubt that Jesus knew what He was talking about. This respect in itself would be a departure from the norm, and is an indication that Simon (Peter) was taking a baby step in the right direction, which was rewarded greatly. And this step in the right direction was followed up by many more steps in the right direction, as Simon followed Christ for the rest of his life and became Peter. There is an interesting indication what Jesus would do with Simon the fisherman from the time He first met him. Look at the following verse and see if you pick it up: … Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1: 42 (ESV) Now grab these particular words from the text: “You are Simon… you shall be ....” Although I think the nickname Jesus gave to Peter was personal and special as with the others who were nicknamed by Him, I believe Jesus was indicating something far deeper would happen to Peter than just giving him a nickname. I believe Jesus in essence was saying: “Simon, you are at present a hard nose, stubborn bigot who has been intimidating others throughout your life, and you have greatly limited your influence because of it. You are a natural born leader, for people are drawn to your confidence and courage, but you will lead them astray if you yourself are not led rightly. Simon, you are all of these things and they will stand against the great capabilities you could have. But, and this is a big but, I will change these things about you. Yes, I receive you as you are right now and I require only your faith. But, you must not remain the way you are. Simon, in asking you to join Me, I do not see these present things about you as standing in the way of My love for you, for I see the Peter who will one day overcome his prejudice and reach to the Gentiles. I see the Peter who will lead a Roman officer to know and embrace Me. I see the Peter who will stand before a large gathering of people and share his faith so convincingly that over 3,000 will come to know Me. I see the Peter who will stand down the religious holier-than-thou leaders of this day, as they connect that you have been with Me. I see the Peter who will honor me in his death by asking to be crucified upside down because he doesn't count himself worthy to share My own crucifixion. I see the Peter, I will one day build my Church on. Simon, you will be this Rock, and this man will be a man after My own heart. You are right now Simon. But, you will one day be Peter My Rock, when I transform you into this man.” Simon was transformed by Christ into Peter, and we know the rest of the story. But, it doesn't stop with Peter. It can go to “Bubba at da Bay,” and you and me as well. If it could happen with Simon Peter, it could happen with the most unlikely person. What did Simon do to become the man Jesus made of him? He took a baby step in the right direction, and followed it up with some other steps in faith. It required a little faith to get it started. But even a little faith can move mountains. So, come on. Get out of the boat, and take that baby step toward Jesus. There's a Peter in you wanting to emerge from the Bubba that you now are, and it starts with that first step you will take toward Christ. So, come on Bubba, take the step. Download file