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Hard work and great skill alone does not guarantee success

Over the years I have read of many rags to riches stories. Everyone one of these describe how hard work yielded great results. The disappointing thing about these stories is that you do not hear of the many more who worked hard and did not see success. You may argue that their formula was not right. Or the product or service they carried did not work. Whatever the reasons, hard work alone does not guarantee success.

Luke 5:5-7
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.

Here Luke shares the story of experienced fishermen who worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus, a carpenter by training, and seen as a great teacher of spiritual things, came along and pointed to the deep and they caught fish till they could not even carry them back to shore.

Luke 5:36-38
Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Jesus showed that there is something else needed. A new thing that cannot be using old vessels or thinking. He showed that men need God and they need to be delivered from all kinds of circumstances. The status quo cannot remain. Sins must be forgiven and they can be forgiven. God is able to touch all persons irrespective of how sinful you are. You can come from zero to being full with God in your life. The Jewish leaders came from all over to hear Jesus and watch Him forgive the sins of a paralyzed man, and heal him. They marveled at this.  Jesus' statements like this clearly showed that He is God.  His actions are well documented in the ancient writings of the Gospels.

Luke 5:20-23
When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

Father, I am full because you have forgiven my sins and you have provided for me. Preach and demonstrate the kingdom.

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