Catch and Release

I like something I saw some time back. It went like this:

Religion is a man sitting in church thinking about fishing – Relationship is a man fishing thinking about God!

I believe in Christian fellowship and I believe in attending church but if it’s done from ritual or tradition it really isn’t profitable. However, when it’s done because of relationship with the Father church attendance is a wonderful place of strength and growth and it is also a wonderful place of service. But I’m not here to talk about church attendance.

I’m asking you today to see how many times you find yourself thinking about the Father and how many times you find yourself reaching out to someone in a gesture of His love; not in a religious, preachy sort of way but just genuine caring and concern? A smile, a hug, a phone call or a note, being patient with someone who you feel is incompetent or unprepared; taking time to help someone else even if it means you are detained from doing what you “want” to do – look for the God directed interruptions to your day.

Jesus was a fisher of men. He was always looking for those who had been “caught” up in the world’s entanglements and “release” them into the loving arms of His Father.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you…40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40 NJKV

Many times the Father interrupts our day with His thoughts and reminders that He cares about the smallest details in our life; a creative thought that makes work more efficient, a friendly stranger giving us their place in a long line, finding something we need for less that we expected to pay, a great parking space, a smoother flow of traffic, a call from a friend, a smile or soft word of love from someone we hold dear. These are all ways the Father reaches out to us.

We might think that God doesn’t really care about the little things but we’d be wrong – He’s the master of the tiny details.

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30 Even the hairs on your head are counted. 31 So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 CEV

If He sees the sparrow fall and He does; He knows the smallest detail about our life and He is invested in showing us His love!

He caught us and is releasing us to be ambassadors for the kingdom of His love.